Skip to main content

Full text of "The Annual Monitor for ... , Or, Obituary of the Members of the Society of ..."

See other formats 


Google 



This is a digital copy of a book that was preserved for generations on library shelves before it was carefully scanned by Google as part of a project 

to make the world's books discoverable online. 

It has survived long enough for the copyright to expire and the book to enter the public domain. A public domain book is one that was never subject 

to copyright or whose legal copyright term has expired. Whether a book is in the public domain may vary country to country. Public domain books 

are our gateways to the past, representing a wealth of history, culture and knowledge that's often difficult to discover. 

Marks, notations and other maiginalia present in the original volume will appear in this file - a reminder of this book's long journey from the 

publisher to a library and finally to you. 

Usage guidelines 

Google is proud to partner with libraries to digitize public domain materials and make them widely accessible. Public domain books belong to the 
public and we are merely their custodians. Nevertheless, this work is expensive, so in order to keep providing tliis resource, we liave taken steps to 
prevent abuse by commercial parties, including placing technical restrictions on automated querying. 
We also ask that you: 

+ Make non-commercial use of the files We designed Google Book Search for use by individuals, and we request that you use these files for 
personal, non-commercial purposes. 

+ Refrain fivm automated querying Do not send automated queries of any sort to Google's system: If you are conducting research on machine 
translation, optical character recognition or other areas where access to a large amount of text is helpful, please contact us. We encourage the 
use of public domain materials for these purposes and may be able to help. 

+ Maintain attributionTht GoogXt "watermark" you see on each file is essential for in forming people about this project and helping them find 
additional materials through Google Book Search. Please do not remove it. 

+ Keep it legal Whatever your use, remember that you are responsible for ensuring that what you are doing is legal. Do not assume that just 
because we believe a book is in the public domain for users in the United States, that the work is also in the public domain for users in other 
countries. Whether a book is still in copyright varies from country to country, and we can't offer guidance on whether any specific use of 
any specific book is allowed. Please do not assume that a book's appearance in Google Book Search means it can be used in any manner 
anywhere in the world. Copyright infringement liabili^ can be quite severe. 

About Google Book Search 

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and to make it universally accessible and useful. Google Book Search helps readers 
discover the world's books while helping authors and publishers reach new audiences. You can search through the full text of this book on the web 

at |http: //books .google .com/I 



C 9%o/' ^ 



^ ftarvarb Collcfle Xibrar^ ' 



Andrew Preston Peabody 
Fund 

BKQUKATHED BT 

Caroline Eusns Peabodt 

OF QUIBBIDGX 



^p^f^i 



NBW SBBIES, No. 47. 



THE 



ANNUAL MONITOR 

For 1889, 



on 



OBITUARY 



OF THS 



MEKBEB8 07 THE SOCIETT 0? FMENDS 
Ihi 6reat Sritam anti frelanH, 

FOR THE YEAR 1888. 



LONDON : 
8oxj> BT Sakuxl Habbis ft Co., 6, BzsHOPflGATB WRBoxrr ; 

AND BT 

Mabt Sxssions, 16, Low Ousxoatx, Yobk; 

ALSO BY 

John Qouqh, 10, Mabxet Buzldinqs, Dxtblix; 

AND BY THB EDITOB, 

WxzxiAK Robinson, Wxst Bank, Soabbobouoh. 

1888. 



C ^3^?A 9 




LONDOK : 
BARBKTT, SONS AND C0.» PRINTERS, 
OT. TO WEB STREET, E.G. 



PREFACE. 



A good man, when on his death-bed, and 
feeling that the chill of death was creeping over 
him, and that he was about to pass through the 
portals of Eternity, exclaimed — " The anchor 
holds ! " His faith and confidence in his Eedeemer 
remained firm and unshaken when brought to the 
test of that solemn hour. It is well that the 
pages of another volume of the Anntuil Monitor 
bear powerful testimony that the faith by which 
the Christian can live the beautiful life of vital 
Christianity, is also that with which he can enter 
the valley of the shadow of death undismayed at 
the certainty of the great change that must come 
upon him as he passes through the river at its 
further end. And whether it be the mother in 
the vigour of her days who has been called to 
leave her home and her little ones ; or the man of 
business and the philanthropist who has but lately 
taken a foremost place in the busy scenes of life, 



IV FBBFACE, 

and in the battle with sin and evil ; or the aged 
pilgrim, whose life, chequered as it may have been 
with hardship and trial, has been marked by 
much faithful service ; as we witness these, meet- 
ing with calmness and peace, and even with joy 
at heart, the certain summons away from earth 
and all its ties and endearments — as we see that 
for them too the anchor held, because they knew 
" that their Redeemer Hveth ; " — can it be other- 
wise than that we should find in such testimony 
a strong encouragement to hold the beginning of 
the Christian's confidence steadfast unto the end. 
The days will not soon pass away in which 
the faith of many will continue to be assailed and 
sorely shaken by the speculations and philosophic 
theories of highly cultivated intellects. An 
antidote to unhappy doubt and unbelief, such as 
these pages furnish, is therefore of great value ; 
and I can understand the feeling which prompted 
that Hindoo scholar, Keshub Chunder Sen, when 
he had looked through a number of Friends 
books which had been presented to him, to say 
that he was more impressed with the value of the 
Annual Monitor than of any other, because he 
thought that the lives of those who have lived in 
our own times, exercise a more powerful influence 
over U8 than those of even more conspicuously 



PREFACE. V 

excellent persons who were not contemporary 
with us. 

If such value really attaches 16 the Anwual 
Monitor, it cannot but be matter for regret that 
its circulation is so rapidly diminishing. Where- 
as a few years ago more than three thousand 
copies were annually distributed, the number has 
now fallen belo^ two thousand : and this seems 
to indicate that there must be a good many 
amongst us, who might share in the help which 
it offers, but who never see the little seriaL 

To the Friends who have furnished me with 
much excellent material this year I tender my 
sincere thanks ; may their labour and my own be 
the means of bringing help and encouragement to 
many hearts. 

W. Robinson. 
West Ba/nJc, Scarborough, 

Twelfth month, 1888. 



LIST OF MEMOIRS. 



Anna M. Andrews. 
Mart Maw Barber. 
EiCHENDA L. Barclay. 
Mart Anne Eliott. 
Louisa Evens. 
Emilt J. Harding. 
Thomas Lister. 
John E. Littlebot. 
Harrison Pennet. 
Jane Pkiestman. 
John R. Procter. 
Henry E. Bobson. 



John S. Bobson. 
Sarah Bowntree. 
Charles A. Scott. 
Eliza Sessions. 
Ann Snowdbn. 
Annette J. Taylor. 
Henry Taylor. 
BicHARD Thompson. 
Caroline L. Tyler. 
Sarah Walker. 
Margaret H. Wallis. 
Mary Wbstlake. 



William Oolson Wbstlake. 

These Memoirs are published without any official 
sanction or supervision on the part of the Society of 
FriendSt arid on the sole responsibility of the voriters, 
their friends y and the Editor, 



THE 

ANNUAL MONITOR. 

188 9. 



OBITUARY. 



Age. Time of Deoease. 

Dorothy Smbe Allen, 

Enfield. 2 28 12 mo. 1887 

Daugliter of Jokn A. and Elizabeth M. Allen. 
Harriet Allen, 83 4 2 mo. 1888 

HoUoway. Widow of Samuel Allen. 
Margaret Allen, 51 6 11 mo. 1887 

Hamiltons Baton, Cootehill, 
Sarah Mehetabel Allen, 

Canterbury. 66 2 2 mo. 1888 

Anna Maria Andrews, 

Ackworth. 42 3 10 mo. 1888 

Wife of Frederick Andrews. 

If it were not that Anna Maria Andrews 
occupied for eleven years such a prominent posi- 
tion at Ackworth School, and bo became known 

B 



2 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

and loved by many connected with it, in all 
probability no sketch of her life would have 
been written ; it is therefore intended to confine 
any reference to cfther periods of her life within 
narrow compass. 

A. M. Andrews was the youngest child of the 
late William Lean and Hannah Lean, of Birming- 
ham, and was received into the family, as a wel- 
come birthday gift, on the 3rd of Sixth month, 
1846, the very day when her eldest brother 
attained the age of thirteen. This naturally 
created a special bond between these two members 
of what was always a very united family. 

As a child A. M. A. was often passionate and 
wilful, but a general favourite on account of her 
lively and loving disposition. Owing to delicate 
health, and other causes, her schooling was much 
interrupted ; but, as she was naturally intelli- 
gent, the course of reading undertaken later, 
under her father's guidance, amply supplied any 
deficiencies which existed. 

Her spiritual life seems to have been a plant 
of slow and gradual growth. When still young 
she often had searchings of heart, which in time 
deepened into a very simple, but a very real 
trust in her Father in Heaven and her Saviour. 
She often said that even as a child she had never 



ANNA MARIA ANDREWS. 3 

seen why she should be afraid of dying; and 
early she seems to have realised the truth which 
she expressed on her death-bed — " It matters 
little how or when we die, if living we abide in 
His presence." In one of her later letters occurs a 
reference to her childhood — " What must be the 
blank to those who do not believe in prayer ! 
Even when I was a very wild young girl I knew 
its power." 

She was always capable of unusual depths of 
love, and these were culled out to the full in her 
almost passionate attachment to her father. In a 
letter written in 1875, " to my own precious, noble 
father," she says, " All that is best in me, or 
strong, is mostly owing to thee, and the love 
I always knew thee bore me, the naughty, fiery 
child thou so often forgave, and still forgives." 

The band of four sisters, who had passed a 
happy, merry ' childhood together, soon became 
separated, and as Anna Maria was the last to 
leave home, she became the "special Auntie," 
always ready to help her married sisters in their 
homes. In 1872 she went to Ipswich, to her 
sister Sophia, who was in delicate health, and on 
her arrival announced in her bright way, " I am 
come on a long visit," little thinking that it would 
prove indeed a long visit ; for her dear sister 



4 ANKUAL HOMITOR. 

became suddenly seriously ill, and passed away 
as in a moment in her younger sister's arms, 
leaving to her charge her three little ones, irho 
were immediately taken to her heart, and cared 
for ever after as her own. 

This incident altered the course of A. M. A.'s 
life. For four years she devoted herself, at Ips- 
wich and at Leeds, to her widowed brother and 
his children. The spirit in which she entered upon 
this part of her life's work may be gathered from 
a letter written at this time — " lam busy as busy 
can be ; very happy, though very often a strong 
yearning comes over me just for one more kiss 
from the one angel-sister. It seems just as if she 
had said, ' I am tired, Anna Maria ; do my work 
for me,' and gone to sleep ; for I have taken up her 
burdens, which were getting too heavy for her, just 
where she laid them down, and it is just lovely to 
feel I am still working for her." 

Under this discipline and increased responsi- 
bility her character deepened, and the strong will 
she had always shown developed into beautiful 
strength of character. 

In 1875 the increasing illness of her father 
called her home ; and lovingly did she tend him 
until, in Third month, 1876, she formed one of a 
devoted band of watchers who stood around his 



ANNA MARIA ANDREWS. 5 

bed, to see him *' pass away like a child falling 
asleep, cradled in the arms of Everlasting Love." 

A. M. A. looked upon it as a wonderful in- 
stance of the condescending love of her Heavenly- 
Father that He should send just at this time, 
when she was called upon to part for a time from 
one whom she had so dearly loved, a fresh object 
around which her heart's affections might cling. 
A week before her'father's death, in time to re- 
ceive his approval and blessing, she was engaged 
to be married to Frederick Andrews, then a 
master at Oliver's Mount School. 

The eighteen months which followed were a 
time of trial and proving. The home at Birming- 
ham was broken up, and in other respects the 
prospects for the future seemed very gloomy. A 
few extracts from A. M. A.'s letters during this 
period will show that lessons of faith and patience 
were being leamt. 

" In meeting this morning I felt more restful, 
and * Father, glorify Thy name,' passed over and 
over before me. We can glorify His name by 
bearing our trial cheerfully." 

" Oh, I only hope my trust and faith is the 
real thing ; so that when it is tried yet further, 
as it may be, it will not fail me. It is easy to be 
resigned in prospect." 



6 AKNUAL MONITOR. 

"I was thinking last night I could hardly 
say that I wished the trouble away (this referred 
to F. A/s threatened loss of sight), for it is — 

* Like some angelic warder, 
Ever keeping sacred order 
In the chambers of my heart.' 

I am trying daily to brave myself to bear and do 
anything. I do want so to be cheerful in hearty 

as well as externally. said to-day, * Thee 

will never be unhappy : thy spirit will carry thee 
over anything.' And it seems such a shame to 
me that I should show such a merry front to all, 
and only have a grieving striving heart to show 
my Father. I am not satisfied with veneer, I 
like that prayer, " Make me to love Thy wilL" 

*' I often think it seems so shabby to wait 
for trial before you give your whole heart to God. 
It seems more noble to serve when things are 
prosperous around you. In trouble stronger help 
you mtLst have." 

Speaking of a special petition she had been 
pressing at the throne of grace, she goes on to say, 
*' And then all of a sudden I found myself talking 
to our Father just as a father, and telling Him 
all about thee and our love ; and thee can't think 
what a blessed feeling of rest and peace stole into 



ANNA HABIA ANDREWS. 7 

my poor burdened heart ; if only I could always 
feel like that ! I was so struck for the second 
time in reading 'Stepping Heavenward/ with 
Katie's mother's dying words, * I have given the 
Lord a deal of trouble, but He is driving me 
into pasture now.' " 

On the 11th of Seventh month, 1877, Anna 
Maria Andrews was married from her eldest 
brother's home at the Flounders Institute, and 
within a few weeks entered upon her life at 
Ackworth as mistress of the large family at the 
School. Coming as she did a stranger to the 
School, some little time elapsed before she took 
root ; but when she began to recognise her power 
for usefulness, and to gain the love and redpect 
of all with whom she was associated, her affec- 
tions were given in no stinted measure, and the 
" dear old School *' proved a very happy home, to 
her. From the first her power was felt in up- 
holding her husband's hands in «very department 
of the School. She grasped at no special authority, 
but quietly waited until her sympathetic influ- 
ence made itself felt, and before long she was the* 
one to whom all could come-^teachers, officers, 
servants, children — with a certainty of welcome 
and loving help. However often the knock was 
heard at her sitting-room door, the same ready 



8 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

bright smile welcomed the visitant ; never were 
any allowed to feel their call inopportune, for she 
looked upon these interruptions as part of her 
daily work, and strove earnestly to keep — 

" A heart at leisure from itself 
To soothe and sympathise." 

When her own children claimed more of her 
time and attention, her love for and interest in 
the scholars was daily shown by the happy smiles 
she dispensed so freely as she walked rapidly 
through the passages, or down to her place in 
girls' or boys* dining-room. The practice which 
she kept up from the first of kissing all the girls 
in their beds, on the night of their return to 
school after holidays, was characteristic of her ; 
and that these little manifestations of loving 
interest were appreciated, others besides the 
scholar whose letter is quoted below could testify. 
"Never shall I forget Mrs. Andrews, with her 
dear kind motherly ways. It always seemed to 
do one good to meet her in the passage, and to 
receive from her a bright and loving smile.'' 

A. M. A. took special interest in the occu- 
pants of the sick nursery, whether teachers or 
children ; and many an hour did she spend 
either in reading to the patients, or in doing 
numberless little offices to help towards recovery. 



ASVJL MARIA ANDRKWS. 9 

Her mere presence brightened a sick room, and 
her deft fingers were never idle until the best had 
been made of everything. One of her boys wrotey 
on hearing of her illness, " I have not forgotten 
the many kindnesses so lovingly bestowed on 
myseK by her daring the time I was ill at Ack- 
worth, also the kindly farewell on leaving the 
School, which are still fresh in my memory." 

Her services were always eagerly sought if 
any entertainment was thought of ; and many 
happy hours were spent in her company by the 
boys of the first class, when preparing for the last 
evening of the half-year. She entered heartily 
into their fun, and yet insisted on everything 
being well and thoroughly done. In this con- 
nection we may quote the words of one who knew 
her well : — " The perennial freshness in her is 
what I think of as much as anything in her life 
here at Ackworth. She had a thorough enjoy- 
ment of life, and so genuine a satisfaction in 
seeing things well done, and pleasantly done, and 
beautifully done, whether by others or by herself, 
that in the very simplicity of her nature, and 
in her artlessness, she would commend things 
heartily that pleased her, without much question- 
ing as to whether the object that won her appro- 
bation were her own or another's. She was gene- 



10 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

reus to a fault in commending the work of others, 
even to their faces. It was, I believe, her artistic 
sense of beauty, whether of form or of perform- 
ance, that, being gratified, confessed itself by such 
simple avowals of delight, which were, in fact, 
with her just so much overflowing thankfulness 
for happiness received." 

Early in 1879 her cup of happiness seemed 
full to overflowing, when the maternal love she 
had lavished upon so many received a new object 
for its exercise in the birth of her first child. On 
her recovery, some of her thoughts found expree. 
sion in the following verses, which she wrote for 
the Girls' Essay Society : — 

Thronging to the gates of heaven 
Game a band of angels bright, 

Meeting there to speed the going 
Of a baby soul that night. 

Came an angel from the Presence ; 

In his arms the treasure lies, 
Just fresh from the Father's bosom, 

Sent to gladden mortal eyes. 

Pressing round the radiant bearer, 
A sweet song the angels sang ; 

Their glad voices' richest cadence 
Through the golden city rang. 



ANNA MARIA ANDREWS. 11 

Sang they to her of the beauties 

In this lovely world of ours ; 
Told her of the glorious sunsets, 

Counted up the sweetest flowers ; 

Told her softly of the sorrow 

She might haply meet with here ;- 

And across their faces flitted 
Just the shadow of a tear ; — 

Told her gladly of the safety 

Faith and prayer to her would bring ; 
Charged her to be pure and holy ; — 

Sweet the things that angels sing : — 

In a chorus of rejoicing 

Told her of the rest at last, 
As the angel from them moving 

Through the shining portals passed. 

** Good-bye, little soul," the angels 
Called, with many a loviQg smile ; 

Through the air a voice came echoing, 
" Good-bye for a little while." 

Tenderly the angel held her. 
Softly towards the earth he came ; 

Lovingly he whispered to her 
Such a pretty little name. 

When he reached our sleeping village. 

Dawn was breaking into day ; 
Very short had been the journey. 

Heaven is not far away. 



12 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Oh ! our cold grey walls were lighted 
With the glimmer from his wings ; 

And the children, — ^whilst he*s passing, — 
They are dreaming holy things. 

Surely some one saw the angel ! 

Surely heard his gentle tread t 
Or perhaps they caught the music 

Of the blessing that he said. 

If our eyes were all too heavy 

For beholding guest so fair, 
Joyfully we found a token 

That an angel had been there ; 

For it happened in the morning, 
When the snow lay on the ground ; 

We, with very great rejoicing, 
In our midst a " Daisy " foimd I 

This gift of rhyming, which A. M. A. pos- 
sessed along with a love of painting, and the 
power of rapid and graphic sketching?, afforded 
great delight to her children and others. Many 
are the letters adorned with sketches recalling 
humorous incidents of travel, which her children 
received during her occasional absences from them. 
In her last illness weary hours were brightened 
by her use of brush and palette, and very precious 
now are the flower paintings she has left, no mean 
evidence of her artistic skill. 



ANNA MARIA ANDREWS. 13 

• 

Her life at Ackwortb. was made happier by 
the residence in the viUage of her aged mother, 
whom she tended with loving and grateful care. 
Visitors to the scliool were always welcomed with 
gentle hospitality ; and the members of the Com- 
mittee were regarded from the first as personal 
friends whom it was a privilege to know. 

During the winter vacation of 1887-8 A. M. A. 
was seized with a painful illness ; but some time 
elapsed before any danger was apprehended. A 
Leeds doctor had been consulted in the previous 
autumn, and now again his opinion dispelled 
fears which had begun to arise. After two months' 
illness A. M. A. was able to leave her room and 
mingle with her family ; but as pain still con- 
tinued, a fresh visit was paid to Leeds, and possible 
serious consequences were now hinted at. On 
returning home she writes, " Every one is so kind 
to me — flowers come from far and near — and if 
love and sympathy could have cured me, I should 
have been well long ago. I am thinking of His 
sufferings to-day ; what are mine to His 1 And 
He had no sympathy, only taunts ; so surely I 
can bear on cheerfully." 

On the 7th of Fourth month she and her 
husband went to Leeds for a final consultation ; 
lodgings were taken in the expectation that an 





14 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

operatioii might be necessary. Two days after- 
wards the examination was made. When the 
doctors had retired, she said to her sister, " Now 
I must not forget that that was not the real 
ordeal. I am waiting still for sentence." When 
her husband returned and gently told her that 
the doctors considered there was no hope of 
recovery, she quietly remarked, " Then all they 
can do is to try and ease my passage ; " and 
then, alone with her husband, she showed forth 
the reality of her faith and trust, in calm 
submission to the Father's wilL Months before 
she had faced this possibility, and had been 
fitrengthened to pray, " Father, glorify Thyself in 
me." Buying the few quiet days which were 
spent before returning home, her testimony was 
frequent to the keeping power of her Heavenly 
Father : — ** He has never left me for one minute ;" 
*' I am passing through the swellings of Jordan, 
and I find the bottom very good,^ And again 
one morning she said, '^ I was afraid, when I 
became weak, I should not have power to find 
Him ; but there is no need ; He comes to seek 
me now ; I find Him by me when I awake." 
'' Last night in my weariness I was afraid Satan 
would harass me ; but no, God kept hold of my 
hand." 



ANNA MARIA ANDREWS. 15 

On returning home the sight of her children 
naturally aroused deep feeling ; but again she 
was wonderfully upheld, and writes herseK with 
regard to the meeting, '^ Then my beautiful chil- 
dren — I sent up the prayer, ' Give me plenty of 
pain, lest I dishonour Thee ' — ^but it soon passed, 
and I am as joyously happy as ever, revelling 
in the human love around, and resting in the 
Divine love perfectly.*' Throughout her illness 
it was striking to notice how the anticipation of 
Heaven, the thought "that I shall see my glorious 
Lord," as she expressed it, seemed to cover up 
the thought of the inevitable parting from life 
and its fondest ties. 

Six months of almost incessant and often 
excessive pain now ensued; but the self-forget- 
fulness which had characterised her in time of 
health was still maintained ; and her radiant joy 
was beautiful to behold. She was often anxious 
lest this brightness should be attributed to mere 
natural spirits. To one of her sisters she writes : 
" As a rule I fortify myself in the quiet hours of 
the night for cheery bearing of all before others 
in the day-time. If I did not, I fear impatience 
and irritation might take me unawares before 
my darlings, and so bring dishonour on my Lord ; 
but with these lonely hours of communion with 



16 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Him I am always kept perfectly and even buoy- 
antly happy.'* And so she continued to the end, 
and passed away with a lovely smile upon 'her 
face, which seemed to tell of a blessed foretaste 
of that bright home to which her purified spirit 
had taken its flight ; whilst her poor body, no 
longer racked with pain, lay so calmly beautiful 
in death, that not inappropriately were recalled 
the lines of Bunyan, in which he speaks of the 
Pilgrim lying in a chamber whose windows 
opened to the sunrising, and " the name of that 
chamber was Peace." 

The gathering round the grave was a 
numerous one. After the scholars had sung the 
hymn, " We shall walk through the valley and 
the shadow of death," the silence was broken by 
William S. Lean, whose words were felt to be so 
appropriate and helpful that they are here re- 
produced : — 

** I shine in the light of God, 
His likeness stamps my brow ; 
Through the shadows of death my feet have trod, 
And I reign in glory now. 

" No breaking heart is here, 
No keen and thrilling pain ; 
No wasted cheek where the frequent tear 
Hath rolled and left its stain. 



ANNA MARIA ANDREWS. 17 

** I have found the joys of Heaven, 
I am one of the angel band ; 
To my head a crown of gold is given, 
And a harp is in my hand. 

'* I have leoirned the song they sing 
Whom Jesus hath set free ; 
And the glorious walls of Heaven still ring 
With my new-bom melody. 

** No sin, no grief, no pain, 
Safe in my happy home. 
My fears all fled, my doubts all slain, 
My hour of triumph come. 

" Oh, friends of mortal years. 
The trusted and the true, 
Ye are walking still in the vale of tears, 
But I wait to welcome vou. 

" Do you mourn when another star 
Shines out from the glittering sky ? 
Do you weep when the raging voice of war 
And the storms of conflict die ? 

" Then why should your tears run down. 
And your hearts be sorely riven. 
For another gem in the Saviour's crown. 
And another soul in Heaven ? ** 

"So, when this corruptible shall have put on 
incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on 
immortality, then shall be brought to pass the 
saying that is written. Death is swallowed up in 



18 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Tictory. death, where is thy sting ? grave, 
where is thy victory ? The sting of death is sin ; 
and the strength of sin is the law ; bat thanks 
be to God, which giveth ns the victory through 
our Lord Jesus Christ." "Let not your heart 
be troubled," said our Leader and compassionate 
Saviour ; " In my Father's house are many 
mansions ; if it were not so, I would have told 
you ; for I go to prepare a place for you ; and if I 
go and prepare a place for you, I will come again 
and receive you unto Myself, that where I am 
there ye may be also. And whither I go, ye 
know the way." " I am the resurrection and 
the life ; he that believeth in Me, though he were 
dead, yet shall he live : and whosoever liveth 
and believeth in Me shall never die." " Father, 
I will that they also whom Thou hast given me 
be with me where I am : that they may behold 
i^y glory which Thou hast given me ; for Thou 
lovedst me before the foundation of the world." 
" How beautiful, and how full of comfort to 
those under trial and tribulation, are the promises 
in the glorious gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ ! 
When at the beginning of this week the cold 
northerly wind and the early wintry snow came 
upon the flowers in our gardens round this place, 
I thought that it fitly reminded us of the chill 



ANNA HARIA ANDREWS. 19 

hand of death that was so soon to he laid upon 
our precious sister, who loved the flowers so well ; 
— herself one of the loveliest flowers that ever 
brightened the lives of those among whom she 
lived. But not as the flowers faded in our 
gardens, not even as these beautiful emblems, 
which tender hands have brought here and offered 
as tokens of their affection, not mch is she. These 
flowers must all wither before long ; but hers is 
the resurrection body which shall be given in 
exchange for this 'body of our humiliation,' 
which it is appointed to us to carry about for a 
little while, as one of the channels through which 
our Father's discipline can reach the spirit, until 
that which might seem as though it were fit to be 
transplanted at once into the paradise of God is 
made perfect and fully prepared for the glory of 
the Heavenly Home." 

** What then ? I am not careful to enquire ; 

I know there will be tears, and fears, and 
sorrow, 
And then a loving Saviour drawing nigher, 
And saying, I will answer for the moirow. 

"What then? For all my sins His pardoning 
grace ; 
For all my wants and woes His loving kind- 
ness ; 



20 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

For darkest shades the shining of God's face ; 
And Christ's own hand to lead me in my 
blindness. 

" What then ? A shadowy valley, lone and dim ; 
And then a deep and darkly rolling river ; 
And then a flood of light, — a seraph hymn, — 
And God's own smile for ever and for ever 1 " 

Anna Maria Andrews left behind her letters 
of loving counsel to her four children, written 
during her time of illness. We conclude with 
short extracts from two of these. 

"Thee are nine years old ! and I, thy 
mother, lie dying of an incurable disease ; and 
though I love thee, my first-born baby, and dear 
papa, and brother, and little sisters, as much as 
it is possible for wife and mother to love, yet I 
am very happy. I want to tell thee why I am so 
happy, so that when I am gone, it may help thee 
to come brightly towards the happy land that I 
am going to. It is because I love my Lord yet 
more than I love you, and because I know that 
He will take me to live with Him in Heaven, 
since Jesus Christ washed all my sins away by 
dying on the Cross for me and everyone. 

" My darling, I had looked forward with so 
much pleasure to helping thee to grow up a good 
and useful woman ; and, even though I shall be 



* 



ANNA MARIA ANDREWS. 21 

gone, I may still "be able to help thee a little ; — 
to have thy mother in Heaven will make that 
happy land feel very near to thee. 

• . • • . 

" When mother was a little girl, and when 
she was grown up, she used to try and do some- 
thing kind for someone every day ; — even if it is 
only a smile, or a kiss, or a kind word, thee will 
find it makes thy whole life so veiy happy. 

• • • • * 

" Try to bear in mind, darling, that no young 
girl can tread her path well and safely, without 
the daily and even hourly looking to thy Heavenly 
Father, for help to keep thee from many mistakes.' 

To her youngest child, aged two years : — 
**Jjittle dear one, thee are in mother's room as I 
write this, asking for a grape ; and thee say, * Me 
don't eat the ' kin : ' sweet little lamb, mother 
prays that all through thy life, whether long or 
short, thy Heavenly Father will help thee to 
take only of the good and pure things of life, and 
not to touch things that are wrong ; only to eat 
the good grape, not the skin. 

" Farewell, my little darling ; into God's 
hand does mother commit her baby, trusting that 
He will bring her into the kingdom that He 
loves CO have made up of * The little ones,* ' 



22 ANNUAL HONITOB. 

Eliza Applbton, 83 16 7 mo. 1888 

Sunderland. Widow of John G. Appleton. 
Joshua Ashbt, 68 25 6 mo. 1888 

Brixton Hill. 
Ellen Atkins, 51 14 10 mo. 1888 

FonHhUly Ontario^ Canada, A Minister. 

Daughter of the late John Atkins, of Chipping 

Norton, Oxfordshire. 
Anna Maria Baker, 48 6 12 mo. 1887 

Clonmd. Wife of Richard Baker. • 
Mart Balkwill, 62 14 1 mo. 1888 

PlymwUh. Wife of Frederick P. BalkwilL 
Mart Maw Barber, 68 19 11 mo. 1887 

Sheffield. An Elder. Wife of James H. 

Barber. 
It is not easy to present a brief memoir of 
the late Mary M. Barber, which shall be at once 
consistent with her retiring disposition, and true 
to her useful and loving character ; and it is not 
forgotten that the object of obituary notices ought 
not to be to eulogize, but to furnish fresh moni- 
tors to Christian faith and duty. 

The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews 
points to the just, who have lived by faith, and 
hence wrought righteousness, as a great cloud of 
witnesses, compassing about, as spectators and 
examples, those still running the race of human 



MABY MAW BABBBB. 23 

life. Even yet, year by year, the number of the 
witnesses increases, speaking by the evidence of 
their lives, to ns, the survivors, of the faith 
which worketh by love. 

The subject of this memoir, Mary M. Barber, 
nU Bayldon, was bom at Bamsley, in Twelfth 
month, 1818. She was a timid, sensitive child, 
and, her mother's death taking place in her 
earliest infemcy, she never knew a mother's care. 
Her father's family consisted of an older brother 
and herself. 

Amongst her memoranda are touching allu- 
sions to the close affection in her early childhood 
subsisting between her and her widowed father. 
One or two of these memoranda may perhaps 
interest others beside her own family, and are 
therefore inserted here. 

" In our young days," she says, " we were 
rarely many months without visits from minister- 
ing Friends, and these mostly paid what was then 
known as a family visit, going from house to 
house, and having a sitting with the family, 
during which they mostly addressed each mem- 
ber separately^ These Friends were frequently 
entertained at my father's house. These visits 
were a great enjoyment to me, and to this day 
the remembrance of many of them is precious. 



24 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

At several times we had Joaepli Jolin Gurnej 
as our guest. On one occasion he was accompanied 
by his sister Elizabeth Fry. I was then about 
seven years old, I think, and I remember Joseph 
John Gumey walking with me in the garden, 
his arms around me, as we so often saw him with 
the children at Ackworth, and without his hat. 
He was talking very lovingly to me, and touched 
a very tender chord by saying, * Thou art thy 
father's dear little darling.' This was when 
he was a widower, and no doubt he was sym- 
pathising with my dear father in his similar 
sorrow. 

" Another most interesting Friend was our 
guest when I was thirteen years old — Stephen 
Grellet — a visit never to be forgotten. He had 
all the polish of the French noblesse, with the 
simplicity of the Friend of those days* His ten- 
derness over me, the little motherless child, was^ 
indescribable, and on passing on his journey 
from Leeds to Sheffield, six weeks afterwards^ 
he stopped the carriage at our house, saying, * he 
wanted to see the dear child once more.' " 

In these memoranda there is an account of 
Friends' Schools at York half a century ago or 
more, from which we extract a few sentences. 

** "When I was nine and a haK years old," »he^ 



MABY MAW BARBER. 25 

says, '^ mj brother and I were sent to school at 
York ; he to the boys' school, then situate just 
out of Walmgate, the master being William Simp- 
son, and I to Hannah Wilson's, South Parade, 
Micklegate Without, then a school of some note. 
We had thirty or thirty-five girls, boarders, and 
a large day school as well. My dear old friend, 
Sarah Mason of York, then Sarah Stickney, was 
the head teacher, and acted a mother's part 
to me, a poor little timid child. We had more 
privileges there than we find at most schools, 
and one of these was that each Assize time we 
were allowed with our teachers to spend a day 
in the Court ; and during these 'occasions I heard 
Brougham, then a barrister, Scarlett (Lord Abin- 
ger) being one of the judges." 

Mary M. Bayldon was three years at Hannah- 
Wilson's school, but it dwindled down, until^ 
one half year, Jane Wheeler CDaniel Wheeler's 
youngest daughter) and Mary M. Bayldon were 
the only boarders, and during the last half-year 
of her stay, about 1831, the latter was alone. 

Nearly at the same period, we believe, the 
Yorkshire Quarterly Meeting's school for girls 
was re- opened, and in 1832, Mary M. Bayldon 
became a scholar there. The school was then in 
Castlegate, not far from it^ original situation,. 

rv 



26 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

where her mother and aunts had been scholars 
thirty or forty years earlier. 

She speaks in grateful terms of the loving 
care of Hannah Brady, afterwards Hannah Sewell, 
then the superintendent, and says she could re- 
member no punishment having been inflicted in 
the school except once, and this was for the 
singular offence of one of the girls inviting an 
itinerant showman to exhibit opposite the school 
windows during the temporary absence of Hannah 
Brady, whose unexpected return at the moment 
when the girls were assembled at the windows, 
and a crowd was gathered in the street to see the 
performance, produced consternation in the minds 
of both teacher and scholars. 

Few teachers have been enabled to inspire 
feelings of deeper affection and reverence in the 
hearts of their scholars than Hannah Brady did, 
her motherliness and Christian influence in the 
school being blessed long afterwards in many a 
liome, and notably in the case of Mary M. 
Barber. 

She was married to James Henry Barber, of 
Sheffield, in 1843, and her married life was 
extended to a period of nearly forty-four years. 
It was one of great activity, the whole of her 
family of twelve children growing up, and sur- 



MARY MAW BARBER. 27 

viTingher. They bear witness to her mingled 
love and quiet firmness, her determination to be 
obeyed by her children in their early life, com* 
bined with her ever self-sacrificing aifectiony 
which was very manifest in the home. 

Nor did any one who knew her intimately 
doubt that the spring of duty was in her deep 
Christian principle, little as she said about it. 
Very humbly believing in her Saviour, her life's 
work at home, and out of her own house, was done 
from love to Him, and in later years her service 
was one of great usefulness outside her family. 

Few members of her meeting visited their 
fellow - members more systematically and con- 
stantly than she did, even when partial blind- 
ness and feeble health attended her advanc- 
ing years. She took a lively interest in the 
various concerns and trials of Friends in these 
visits, especially so in times of sickness and 
bereavement. She thus carried out the injunc- 
tion, " Look not every man on his own things, 
but every man also on the things of others." 

Her attachment to the Society of Friends 
was deep, and she was regular in attending their 
meetings ; and, whilst believing herself to have 
no gift as an Elder, she performed the duties of 
the office in private with faitlifulness. 



28 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Very tender was her feeling towards the 
poor, assisting them with her time and counsel, 
as well as by aid in other ways. Whilst she 
esteemed her own powers for religious teaching 
to be very small, others saw them very dif" 
ferently, and she proved eminently fitted for the 
charge of a Mothers* Meeting. The love of he' 
mothers, many in number, was touchingly shown 
at the time of her death. She had gone to thei' 
homes, and called out their affection by sym- 
pathy; advising with them in their many troubles, 
privations, and temptations, in their family ill- 
nesses and domestic anxiety, without patronage 
or »how of condescension, as only one siste' 
with a woman's heart could speak to another. 
Thus had they been taught to believe in the 
reality of the religion of Jesus Christ, of which 
they heard her speak in the Mothers' Meetings. 

The Female Refuge, the Local Orphanage, the 
Homes for Girls, the Temperance organisations of 
divers kinds, were actively promoted by her, and 
she diligently attended their Committees. One 
Committee after another when she was gone, sent 
in its testimony to the sweetness and gentleness, 
mingled with firmness of principle, which made 
her valuable as a counsellor or peacemaker, and 
also to her active energy as a worker. 



k 



\ MARY MAW BABBEB. 29 

The last few montlis of Mary M. Barber's 
life, from Fourth month to Tenth month, 1887, 
was a period of great bodily feebleness and 
gradual decline. 

She greatly desii-ed to be present once more 
at Yorkshire Quarterly Meeting, and she was so 
at the meeting of that body in Sheffield at the 
end of Tenth month, 1887. Too feeble to receive 
her friends from a distance at home, she went to 
the house of one of her daughters, a few miles out 
of the town, being driven to the morning and 
evening sittings of the first day of the Quarterly 
Meeting. But on the following day it was evident 
that her strength was failing, and that she could 
not go out again, or even return home. She 
remained, therefore, at her son-in-law's (Edmund 
Priestman's) house during the remaining three 
weeks of her life, in the midst of her children, 
sujBfering little pain, and passing peacefully away. 

Of her religious experience, in her last days 
as ever, it was difficult to lead her to speak. A 
few assuring words she uttered, but the evidence 
of her faith was felt to have been in her life. 

Those who knew her best were aware that 
her estimate of herself was almost painfully 
humble. She expressed in her last days disap- 
pointment with regard to the love she had shown 



30 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

to others, and the good she had been able to do in 
the world. 

"Forasmuch as ye did it unto one of the 
least of these my brethren ye did it unto Me," are 
the Saviour's own words when foretelling His 
coming in judgment and glory, and He also fore- 
told that these words should be heard with sur- 
prise by those to whom they should be addressed. 
And yet it is true that not by works of 
righteousness done, bat of His mercy He saveth 
even His saints ; the true Christian work being 
done at His prompting, and through the power 
He gives, whilst the salvation is accomplished 
through Himself alone. 
Lucy Elizabeth Barclay, 

Falmouth, 60 12 2 mo. 1888 

Wife of John Barclay. 
KiCHENDA Louisa Barclay, 

Woodford, Essex, 60 12 2 mo. 1888 

Wife of Henry Ford Barclay. 
Richenda Louisa Barclay was born at Ham 
House, Upton, on the 25th of Eleventh month, 
1827. She was the youngest daughter of Samuel 
and Elizabeth Gurney. As a child she was full 
of spirit and energy, and was always the life 
and centre of the children's amusements, her 
love of fun and adventure often leading them all 



BICBENDA LOniEU. BARCLAT. 31 

into miscliief. She had a happy and luxurious 
home, where she was allowed to indulge, with- 
out much restraint, her various pleasures and 
interests. Amongst the former was her great 
love of animals; they never had a warmer partisan, 
or one who would more zealously fight their 
battles, wherever she saw them oppressed or ill- 
treated ; a horse with a bearing - rein, or a dog 
without water, would never be passed unnoticed 

by her : suffering in any form, whether in human 
beings or animals, was always to be alleviated, 
if possible. She was a good horsewoman, and 
many will remember the frequent riding parties, 
gathered from the various family houses at the 
borders of the Forest, of which parties she was 
at first the youngest, and always the brightest 
and most daring. 

Her chief friends and companions, as her 
brothers and sisters married and left Ham House, 
were her cousin Charlotte Sheppard, and Jane 
Lister, who afterwards became the wives of 
Henry Carter, of Walthamstow, and of Smith- 
Harrison, of Woodford. These friendships con- 
tinued throughout Richenda Barclay's life, and 
her friend Charlotte Carter was one of those 
who watched through that last day when her 
valued life was fast ebbing away. 



32 ANNX7AL MONITOB. 

Eichenda Gumey married, in 1848, Henry 
Ford fearday, the eldest son of Ford and Esther 
Barclay, of Walthamstow. Her home soon be- 
came the centre of much that was pleasant and 
attractive ; she always seemed intuitively to know 
what would give others pleasure. Many of her 
younger friends and relations looked forward to 
their visits to her as the time when their favourite 
amusements and pleasures would be provided 
for them, and their every wish and taste, as far 
as possible, gratified. Her older visitors too, 
knew that in her they would find a deferential 
and considerate hostess. 

This peculiar thoughtfulness was not only 
shown to those of her own station, it was ex- 
tended to hundreds of others in a lower position. 
Her deep religious feeling made her keenly 
realise her responsibilities, and that she held 
her " good gifts " from One to whom she must 
give an account of her stewardship. 

The gatherings held at Monkhams, Wood- 
ford, her charming and happy heme, are well- 
known. Year after year she and her husband 
entertained the members of various religious 
and philanthropic societies. The London Bible- 
Women visited Monkhams, and her former 
residence at Walthamstow, annually, with but 



BICRENDA LOUISA BABGLAT. 33 

one or two exceptions, for nearly thirty years. 
Poor foreigners residing in London, members of 
various Mothers' meetings, the London Hospital 
nurses, Sunday schools of different denomina- 
tions. Bands of Hope, and others, were invited 
and entertained over and over again ; the details 
of the arrangements and amusements were gone 
into carefully by herself, and it was her custom 
to present each one with a bunch of flowers and 
a book on leaving. Many of those poor London 
visitors will never forget those happy days, and 
the kind smile and words they each received 
from their hostess. 

As might be expected from her character, 
the poor in her immediate neighbourhood were 
not forgotten ; she regularly visited her district, 
and was a constant reader to the invalids in 
Mrs. Gladstone's Convalescent Home ; but she 
had a great horror of the pauperising effect of 
indiscriminate giving, and her righteous indigna- 
tion would be aroused at any attempt at decep- 
tion or obtaining help under false pretences. 
It must not be thought that the " poor," usually 
eo called, were the only recipients of her 
kindnesses. Many a lady could tell of her 
iloctor's bill being paid, or of clothes being sept 
for the children. Her carriage, too, waa often 



34 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

at the disposal of those who had not one of their 
own. 

Eichenda Barclay was a warm supporter of 
all Temperance work. She was interested in, 
and strongly inculcated it, long before it became 
so generally a part of all Christian effort as is 
now the case. She was more intolerant of intem- 
perance than of almost any other vice, and perhaps 
sometimes too severely judged those who did not 
entirely abstain. 

Before closing, we must for a few moments 
glance at Richenda Barclay's more private and 
religious life. She was a devoted wife and 
mother ; though so capable and in some ways 
independent in character, she strongly leaned 
upon her husband ; in all matters of importance 
she would neither speak nor act without his 
counsel and advice. She delighted in the well- 
doing of her children, and, if pride is ever per- 
missible, one could overlook it in her when 
gazing with admiring and affectionate eyes on her 
five well-grown sons doing such credit to their 
parents in their school and college careers. But 
much as she wished them to excel in intellectual 
and athletic pursuits, her earnest desire was that 
they should become true and earnest Christians. 
Her daughters and grandchildren, too, were 



BICHENDA LOUISA BARCLAY. 35 

constant sources of interest and pleasure to her, 
and as the former became heads of families 
themselves, they found in their mother the friend 
and counsellor whose place no one can fill, and 
in whose love and " caring " they could so surely 
trust. 

Notwithstanding the prosperity and happi- 
ness which surrounded her, Richenda Bai-clay 
was by no means without her trials and sorrow^. 
The death of her baby, Edmund de Goumay, in 
1864, and in 1867 of her daughter Alice at the 
age of twelve, were keenly felt by her, more so 
perhaps than some might have supposed, who 
saw the brave way in which she resumed her 
usual occupations ; but she was one who felt it 
wrong to let personal grief interfere with one's 
duty to others, and she had the strongest feeling 
that all was "ordered," and must be accepted 
and bowed to willingly and cheerfully. 

For nearly thirty years she had a continuous 
and increasing trial in her deafness ; it gradually 
excluded her from so much that, to her especially, 
would have been enjoyable and profitable in her 
family and religious life. Latterly it also pre- 
vented her partaking in the interests of her many 
relations and connections, to which her natural 
large-heartedness inclined her. It was, how ever, 



36 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

evident that there was a great and deep work 
going on in that inner, silent life. Her constant 
Btndy of her Bible, her desire that her own young 
people and all others should become Bible students, 
(at the time of her death the members of her 
branch of the children's Scripture Union num- 
bered nearly 300), her patience in bearing her 
trial, her sweet and sympathetic smile, ready for 
sp., when she heard not their voices, her frequent 
allusions to the time when she should not only 
be re-united to those gone before, but be able to 
hold communion with them and with those who 
should follow her to that better land — ^was it not 
all the " bearing fruit upwards " of that Spirit 
which was daily taking firmer root downwards in. 
the quiet and prepared ground of her heart ? 

It was on the 12th of Second month that her 
deaf ears were opened to hear the message brought 
her : — " The Master is come and calleth for thee." 
It was a sudden call, but she was ready to arise 
and go quickly unto Him. But though sudden,^ 
it was not wholly unexpected. For some time 
her immediate family circle had noticed that her 
health was not so vigorous as in past years ; and 
the doctors had uttered a note of warning to those 
near to her, a few months previously. She was 
about as usual on the llth, but, feeling unwell. 



BICHSNDA LOUISA BARCLAY. 37 

the doctor was sent for; but no medical skill 
could avail ; she rapidly became unconscious, and 
passed away on the evening of the 12th, at the 
age of 60. It was a calm and peaceful end to a 
useful and active life ; but not one of those who 
loved and depended on her, or of those many more 
who will miss her, could wish to recall her from 
her welcome rest, or to withdraw her from the pre- 
sence of that Saviour whom she loved and trusted, 
or from the company of the just made perfect. 

Bichenda Barclay was a member of the 
Wanstead Meeting, but was interred in the Ilford 
cemetery, by the side of her children, grandchild 
and brothers-in-law. She had herself desired, 
only a fortnight before, that all the poor people of 
Woodford who, in the event of her death, wished 
to be present at her funeral, should have carriages 
provided for them ; and this was at a time when 
all thought her in her usual health. If anything 
was needed to show the love and esteem in which 
she was held, it was to be seen on that day. 
Truly they came from far and near, rich and poor, 
high and low, not as gazers, but as mourners and 
sympathizers, anxious to show the last mark of 
love and respect to her who had been to many of 
them a sincere friend, and by whose thoughtful 
generosity many are still benefiting: 



38 ANNUAL-MONITOR. 

William F. Bartlbtt, 61 27 3 mo. 1888 

Henley-on-Thames, 
Emilt BasS; Sheffield. 81 7 8 mo. 1888 

Widow of Isaac Gray Bass. 
Ellen Rowland Beck, 60 11 7 mo. 1888 

Hastings. Wife of Samuel Beck. 
Elizabeth Chapman Bell, 

Brookfieldf Ireland. 14 30 5 mo. 1888 

Daughter of Eichard Bell. 
Isabella Benson, 79 25 2 mo. 1888 

Preston. An Elder. Widow of Robert Ben- 
son. 
Ellen Benstead, 45 9 5 mo. 1888 

Preston. Wife of Samuel D. Benstead. 
Edith Genevieve Bewley, 

8 21 5 mo. 1888 

Blackrock, Dvblin. Daughter of Thomas A. 

Bewley. 



Mabia Biqland, 


73 


3 11 mo. 


1887 


Stockton-on-Tees. 








Maria. Binns, Leeds. 


70 


14 9 mo. 


1887 


Louisa Binyon, 


73 


19 5 mo. 


1888 



Blachrodcy Cork. Wife of Joseph B. Binyon. 
William Birrell, 49 12 12 mo. 1887 

Halifax. 
Martha Blackburn^ 59 18 2 mo. 1888 

HvMersfiM. 



ANNUAL MONITOR. 39 

Frances Bloore, 72 27 3 mo. 1888 

AshtoUf near BakewelL Widow of Bowman 

Bloore. 
Martha Bowden, 77 26 10 mo. 1887 

Tottenham, Widow of Josiali Bowden. 
Aones Bowes, 37 30 3 mo. 1888 

Bessbrook. Wife of James Bowes. 
Hannah Bowles, 49 13 12 mo. 1887 

Kingstoron^ Dublin, 
Ann BRAMMALL,.^cc;e«. 77 17 2 mo. 1888 

Widow of Jolin Brammall. 
Emilt Bransbt, 74 6 6 mo. 1888 

Buxton^ Norfolk. Widow of Kirby Bransby. 
Phyllis M. G. Bright, 

Weetminster. 19 mos. 5 8 mo. 1887 

Daughter of William L. and Isabella M. 

Bright. 
Catherine Treoelles Browne, 

Ford Park, Plymouth. 90 21 5 mo. 1888 

An Elder. Widow of William Browne, late of 

Torquay. 
Walter Freelove Brown, 

KingsUm-on-TJumies. 29 16 2 mo. 1888 
Ann Brunton, 84 28 12 mo. 1887 

Lancaster, 
BuTH Bulla, 63 17 5 mo. 1888 

CUmtwrf, DMin, Wife of Timothy Bulla. 



40 ANNUAL MONITOB. 

!1^DWABD BuBTT, 65 2 11 mo. 1887 

JVelbouTn$^ near GrantJiarrL 
James Cadburt, 85 17 2 mo. 1888 

Orimsburyy Banbury, A Minister. 
Edmund Candleb, 79 26 1 mo. 1888 

CamberwelL 
Wilfrid Catchpool. 24 5 5 mo. 1888 
- Kingdand, Son of George and Anna Maria 

Catchpool. 
Stdbnham Davis Chandlee^ M.D., 

Dublin. 30 25 3 mo. 1888 

Henbt Chandleb, 74 14 10 ma 1887 

ManchAster. 
Robert Ash Chableton, 28 9 9 mo. 1888 

Clifton, Bristol Son of Catherine and the late 

Bobert Charleton. 
RoBEBT ChbistY; 68 1 2 mo. 1888 

Chignal, near Chelmrford. 
Hannah Clabkb, 83 17 1 mo. 1888 

HttcJcnaU HtUhwaite, near Mansfield, Widow 

of George Clarke. 
Elizabeth Clibbobn, 28 14 12 mo. 1887 

Cork Wife of Barclay Clibbom. 
John William Clouqh, 

Leeds. 50 28 10 mo. 1887 

Sarah Coleman, 68 15 % mo. 1888 

Folkestone. Wife of William Coleman. 



ANNUAL MONITOR. 41 

Mary Collins, 91 13 7 mo. 1888 

Northampton. An Elder. Widow of William 

Collins. 
Hannah Maria Cooke, 

OrmUrk 49 7 10 mo. 1888 

Daughter of George and the late Susanna Cooke. 
James Cooke, 78 23 8 mo. 1888 

Blackrock, Cork. 
Maria Corbbtt, 94 29 6 mo. 1888 

Levenshiblmey Manchester^ 
Kathbrine a. Crofts, 36 13 1 mo. 1887 

Cypress MUls, Blanco County, Texas, U.S. Wife 

of Joseph S. Crofts. 
James Crosbt, 67 20 2 mo. 1888 

Holme, Yealand. 
William Cumberland, 42 2 12 mo. 1887 

Low Bentham. 
Maria Dann, Eedhill 69 25 4 mo. 1888 

Widow of Thomas Tully Dann. 
Thomas Qates Darton, 77 16 12 mo. 1887 

Peckhomi. An Elder. 
Susanna Dickinson, 77 20 * 4 mo. 1888 

Mountrath. 
Ellen Dinning, 73 5 11 mo. 1887 

Newcastle. Widow of Stephen Dinning. 
Henry Douglas, 60 28 6 mo. 1888 

Bishop Attckland. 



42 annual monitob. 

Maby Elizabeth Dbakibfobd, 

43 20 11 mo, 1887 

CoUhovM, near Hawkshead* 
William Dbbwbt, 72 15 12 mo. 1887 

Fle«t%oood, 
Pbiscilla Dunning, 61 1 11 mo. 1887 

Broadstam. Widow of John Donning, late of 

Middlesborough. 
BoBEBT Dtmond, F.S.A., 64 31 8 mo. 1888 

Exeter. 
Luke Eastwood, 64 2 6 mo. 1888 

Lancaster. 
Maby Anne Eliott, 67 16 11 mo. 1887 

Liskeard. An Elder. Widow of John 

Eliott. 
In the removal from amongst us of Mary 
Anne Eliott, it seems right to bear testimony to 
the value and depth of her Christian character, 
and to make some little record of her life of self- 
renouncing love and patient continuance in well- 
doing. 

She was the eldest daughter of Henry and 
Anne Sturge, of Lambridge, Bath, and was bom 
there on the 27th of First month, 1820. Blessed 
with watchful parental training, and surrounded 
by many helpful influences, her heart was early 
drawn to her Saviour, and in after-life she was 



HABY ANNS ELIOTT. 43 

unable to remember the time when she did not 
desire to love Him. 

She was naturally fond of learning, and, being 
endowed with considerable powers of mind and 
a retentive memory, she entered with interest 
and zest into the educational advantages which 
Bath afforded. Nor were things of highest im- 
portance forgotten. Bath Meeting was at that 
time frequently visited by ministers of the Gospel 
travelling in their Master's service. A visit from 
J. J. Gumey to the Quarterly Meeting was a 
season of special visitation to many young people, 
and M. A. S. shared largely in the blessing. She 
also looked back with much thankfulness to 
family visits at her father's house, from devoted 
servants of the Lord, to whom a remarkable 
insight was often given into the spiritual state of 
their hearers. M. A. S. was from early life a 
useful and valued member of Bath Meeting, where 
for several years she acceptably filled the office 
of Elder. 

During a time of trial in the removal of her 
dear father, she attended a meeting in which the 
late John Pease, in the course of an impressive 
address, expressed his belief that not only spiritual 
blessings, but also those of outward relationship, 
were in store for some present. It was not long 



44 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

after this that she entered into an engagement of 
marriage with John Eliott, of Liskeard, a step 
which was attended with great peace^ and their 
union, which took place in 1859, was evidently 
owned and blessed of the Lord. It might be said 
that '^ the heart of her husband did safely trust 
in her,'* and she entered with warm interest and 
sympathy into all his religious and benevolent 
engagements, strengthening his hands both in his 
public and private work, and cordially entertain- 
ing their frequent guests travelling on philan- 
thropic errands. 

Though naturally diffident, our dear friend 
was enabled faithfully and with large-hearted 
sympathy to uphold that which she believed to 
be right and true, wherever found. She was a 
deeply-attached and consistent member of the 
Society of Friends, whose principles and interests 
were ever near her heart. She rejoiced to see 
the young coming forward to take their right 
share in the service of the Church, and her loving 
words will long be remembered by some of these, 
counselling young ministers to keep in the life, 
and use every opportunity of serving their Master, 
that they might not know the weakening effect of 
disobedience, but grow and be strong in the Lord 
and in the power of His might. 



MART ANNE ELIOTT. 46 

She felt that Quakerism in the mere fonn 
"WQB a dead and empty thing, and she looged that 
all our meetings might be held in the power of 
the Lord ; that the silence might be a living 
silence, and that the ministry might testify of 
Christ, and lead men to Him. 

In 1879 M. A. Eliott was called upon to part 
with her beloved husband, whose health had for 
a considerable time caused her much anxiety. 
Her God in whom she had so long trusted did 
not forsake her now, but enabled her from the 
depths of her sorrow to say, " The Lord gave and 
the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name 
of the Lord." Their union had been so close that 
life could never seem quite the same afterwards, 
but her sweet resignation to the Divine will was 
manifest to all around, and she endeavoured to 
help forward and to show her interest in much of 
the good work in which her husband had been 
engaged. 

She writes : — " The removal of my precious 
husband has forcibly impressed the lesson that 
time is short, and but little remains. Oh ! may I 
be enabled to use all diligence in doing what my 
hands find to do, remembering how short the 
time now is, and seek humbly to be preserved 
within the safe enclosure of the divine fear, and 



46 AKKUAL MONITOR. 

that strength maybe given me to uphold the ban- 
ner given to them that fear Him^ and to display it 
because of the truth." Experiencing His presence 
*^ who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that 
we may be able to comfort others with the same 
comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted 
of God," she writes to another bereaved one : — 
^ How inexpressibly comforting is the invitation 
to hearts thus left desolate, — * Let thy widows 
trust in Me.' Thou wilt, I believe, experience 
the guidance of His hand in this blessed trust, 
and the upholding power of His sweet presence^ 
enabling thee to glorify Him." 

In the summer of 1883, with unselfish love, 
she cheerfully parted with her only child on her 
marriage with Dr. Thorp, of LiverpooL The 
companionship of mother and daughter had been 
an unusually close one, but she characteristically 
remarked that *^ when a step is a right one it is 
right for all concerned ; " and, as it afterwards 
proved, they were not to be long separated. 

For some time the health of our dear friend 
had not been strong, and early in 1885 it became 
more seriously affected. After this she mostly 
resided at the home of her son and daughter in 
Liverpool, where her reverent and saintly spirit 
and holy example, and her loving and prayerful 



HART ANNS XLIOTT. 47 

interest in ixer little grandcliilclren, will ever be a 
precious memory. She was in the true sense a 
" mother in Israel," and her helpful sympathy was 
frequently extended to young men and others visit- 
ing at her son's house, several of whom have testi- 
fied to the blessing of her influence. Weary daja 
and wakeful nights, with much physical exhaus- 
tion, became often her experience; many times her 
voice was heard in the night watches pleading in 
prayer for her dear ones, herself and the Church. 
About this time she writes : — " I cannot but 
be conscious that the malady is making gradual 
progress and weatening my powers, and I desire 
to learn the solemn lesson it is designed to 
convey ; and truly I have cause to acknowledge 
the tender mercy of our Heavenly Father in 
dealing with one so unworthy, so gently and 
in such merciful kindness.'* And again :— •'* This 
trial has been permitted,' I doubt not, for my 
good, and to lead us more fully to realise the 
uncertainty of all things here. Truly this is not 
our rest, but a state of preparation for that blessed 
home above, where sickness and sorrow can never 
enter. May we be concerned steadfastly to jour- 
ney thitherwards in lowly dependence upon Him, 
who in the greatness of His redeeming love has 
gone to prepare a place for all who trust in Him, 



48 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

and where it is my earnest desire we may all 
one day be permitted to meet^ a united family in 
Heaven." 

During a time of prayer in her room she 
asked : " Wilt Thou draw near to us and bless us , 

Bless and — and the dear children, and all 

near and dear to us ; watch over us for good, and 
Order all for us. Care for us through the night, and! 
sustain by Thy holy presence during the silent 
watches, whether of restlessness or quietness. 
Forgive all my sins of omission and commission^ 
for Jesus' sake ; through whom we would offer the 
tribute of thanksgiving and of praise. Amen ! '' 

A week or two later she said, " I feel that 
the Lord has been mindful of us, though I am so 
utterly unworthy. I have been favoured to feel 
the Saviour very near at times, though, at others, 
it has been difficult to get at any feeling of 
good." 

Such experience enabled her the better to 
enter into sympathy with others over whom the 
enemy of souls took advantage, in times of physical 
exhaustion, to deprive them of their peace. To 
one of these she writes : — " Clouds have their 
mission, both in a natural and spiritual sense, as^ 
well as brighter seasons ; and how good it is when 
called to pass through th,e depths, and the light 



MABY ANKB BLIOTT. 49* 

of the Lord's countenance seems withdrawn, to 
know that the promise is faithful and true, that 
' the Sun of Bighteousness will arise with healing 
on His wings to those who fear His name.* How 
encouraging I have thought is the experience of 
Christian in the 'Pilgrim's Progress/ and the 
remark of Hopeful to him, * Be of good cheer, mj 
brother ; I feel the bottom and it is good.' " 

On one occasion she said, " I had a sweet 
time this morning while you were at meeting ; it 
almost seemed as if I could unite a little in the 
song of the redeemed." At another time she said, 
" It seemed as if the dew of Heaven were falling 
round me." Once, when it was remarked what 
a blessed thing it was not to have deferred the 
great business of life until now, she replied by 
speaking of the visitations of Divine love which 
she had experienced in very early life, and then 
said, "My shortcomings have been so great.'*' 
She was reminded that His mercy is greater still,, 
and she replied, " His mercy ! His merciful kind- 
ness is so great ! " and then added with much 
feeling : " It is a blessed thing to be taught, and. 
to have experienced, that there are no joys like- 
unto the joys of God's salvation." 

In the summer of 1887 M. A. E. received am 

unexpected renewal of strength, so that she was> 

r 



50 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

once more enabled, in company with her daughter 
and grandchildren, to visit her own home at 
Liskeard, with all its hallowed associations, and 
for a time she was a little better. 

One morning, after a restless and almost 
sleepless night, she said : " I feel I must keep 
very near to Him, for I am in solemn circum- 
stances, dear ; but He is a stronghold." 

After her return to Liverpool in the Eighth 
month she suffered much from sleeplessness and 
restlessness, and for days she was mostly uncon- 
scious and delirious. Then came the change 
which can only be compared to a calm after a 
storm. Her daughter was in the room when the 
dear mother recognised her, and, with a counte- 
nance full of feeling, said : ^' My dear child, the 
Lord has kept me in safety and in peace, and 
the shadow of His love has been over us." Then 
she continued in a strain of praise ; ^* Gk>d is love ! 
— a stronghold ! — ^how beautiful the sunshine is ! 
think of His goodness. He knoweth them that 
trust in Him ; how good the Lord has been ! He 
knoweth the way that I take, when He hath 
tried me I shall come forth as gold." The suc- 
ceeding night refreshing sleep was her portion, 
fluch as she had not enjoyed for months, and in 
the morning she was equal to receive a visit from 



MARY ANNE ELIOTT. 51 

J. B. B— -, when a precious season of prayer at 
her bedside cheered and comforted her. 

A few days after this, when feeling very 
exhausted, in answer to the remark, '^Dear mother, 
these are weary days for thee," she said, " Yes, 
my love, but we must look up ! God is love." 
At another time she said, " I want to be enabled 
to praise the Lord. I have found Him to be a 
stronghold." In the afternoon of the same day 
she said, '' It is indeed sweet to draw nigh through 
the precious blood shed for sinners, that cleanseth 
£:om all sin. Wilt Thou cleanse us therein from 
all iniquity, and enable us to walk in newness of 
life to Thy praise and glory, for Jesus' sake, and 
to offer the tribute of thanksgiving and of praise 
to Him who has loved us and given Himself for 
us." The verse was repeated, "I sought the 
Lord and He heard me, and delivered me from 
all my fears." She added, " How beautiful ! and 
He careth for us." 

A week or two later, after a day of much weary 
restlessness, she said, ^'I trust, dear, that the Lord 
is caring for us, and leading us by the right 
way, though it seems different from what we 
expected. How very precious the words are, * He 
that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him 
up for us all, how shall He not with Him also 



^ ANNUAL MONITOB. 

freely give us all things ? ' I do feel all your 
love so much. It is sweet to think of the good- 
ness and mercy which have followed us." 

The next day, after receiving some presents 
•of choioe fruit, she said, " How good the Lord is 
to send me such proofs of His love." 

When too weak for much connected read- 
ing, she found great comfort in the records of the 
Anrntal Monitor, which, in time of health, she 
had each year looked forward with interest to 
receiving, and distributing copies of it to others, 
and to which on many occasions her pen had con- 
tributed; and now, feeling herself fast nearing the 
«nd of the journey, she was helped and encouraged 
by reading in its pages the record of the expe- 
riences of others similarly circumstanced. 

On the 17th of Ninth month, she prayed : — 
^* "Wilt Thou enable us to draw near to Thee, in 
the sense of the goodness and mercy which have 
followed us all our lives long ; and now, in the 
closing scenes of life, to seek for a preparation 
that we may dwell with thee for ever ? " Then 
«he repeated the lines, which were great favourites 

of hers : — 

** Oh, Saviour, I have nought to plead, 
In earth beneath or heaven above, 
But just my own exceeding need, 
And Thy exceeding love. 



MARY ANNS ELIOTT. 53 

'^ The need will soon be past and gone, 
Exceeding great, but quickly o'er ; 
The love unbought is all Thine own, 
And lasts for evermore," 

On the 10th of Tenth month, after a night of 
pain and discomfort, she said, " Help is laid on 
One that is mighty, arfd He promises to give 
strength to those who trust in Him." 

The next day the many loved Friends 
assembled at Liskeard, at the Devon and Corn- 
wall Quarterly Meeting, were the subjects of her 
thoughts and prayers; especially was this the case 
at the time of the Meeting for Ministry and Over- 
sight, when she felt very near to them in spirit, 
and prayed : — " Oh, gracious Father, wilt Thou 
bless the dear Friends who are gathered together 
at Liskeard to promote the cause dear to us ; wilt 
Thou strengthen them to uphold the banner 
which has been given us to display because of the 
truth ; and wilt Thou bless us who are absent ; 
bless us in all the changes of life for Jesus' sake. 
We would remember Thy goodness to us in the 
past, and all Thy loving-kindness." 

A few days before the end a young Christian 
friend, a doctor, came in to see her, and in con- 
versing with him she repeated with much feeling 
the lines : — 



M ANNUAL MONITOR. 

" Thy will, not mine, oh God, 

However dark it be ; 
Lead me by Thine own hand ; 

Choose Thou the path for me. 
Smooth let it be or rough, 

It will be still the best. 
Winding or straight it leads 

Bight onward to Thy rest." 

She came downstairs for the last time on the 
11th of Eleventh month, after which she became 
lapidly worse, and the dear sister was telegraphed 
for to whom throughout all her married life she 
had been so closely and lovingly attached, and 
from whom she had ever received such true sis- 
terly affection. She arrived in time to receive 
a sweet look of recognition before the complete 
unconsciousness came on. 

In the early morning of Fourth-day, the 16th, 
those dear to her were summoned to the bedside 
for the last solemn watch, and the feeling of 
quiet and heavenly peace in the room will long 
be remembered, as, at about ten o'clock, her puri- 
fied spirit entered into the rest which remaineth 
for the people of God. 

As night drew on it was sweet to realise that 
for her there would be no weary suffering hours, 
waiting for the morning, for " there shall be no 
night there." 



liOUISA J. SYSNS. 55 

" Thy sun shall no more go down, neither 
shall thy moon withdraw itself, for the Lord shall 
be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy 
mourning shall be ended." 
EicHABD Ellison, 50 10 3 mo. 1888 

Hatoes. 
Ernest Evans, 25 1 V mo. 1888 

Cambridge, Son of Josiah and Mary Hannah 

Evans, of Christchurch, Hants. 
Louisa J. Evens, 66 1 4 mo. 1888 

Southampton. A Minister. Wife of John 

Evens. 

Louisa Evens was the daughter of James 
and Sarah Jenkins, and was bom at Hackney in 
1822. Her mother died when she was about two 
months old, and she was adopted by her aunt, 
Mary Gopsil, of Hertford. She was sent to a 
day-school in the town, but advantages as to edu- 
cation were not great. Naturally of a very 
inquiring mind, and possessing great mental 
energy, she becatae a devourer of books, and was 
very largely seK-taught. 

In quite early life she felt the need of a 
change of heart, and passed through many deep 
conflicts. At one time she was much of a Deist 
in her belief, but the Lord led her to see the 
truth of revealed religion, and in after life the 



56 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

intensity of her convictions was mingled with a 
breadth of thought, and a full comprehension of 
the difficulties of others, which perhaps could 
have been gained in no other school Her 
Heavenly Father, as One who loves to hear and 
answer prayer, was to her a great reality, and 
all things that affected her and those she loved, 
great things and little things too, were carried to 
His footstool. To go straight on in the path that 
He marked out for her, in utter dependence on 
His power and guidance, was the principle of her 
life. 

When about twenty years of age, while 
visiting in Essex, she went to the little meeting- 
house at Witham, now closed, and in a silent 
meeting there she was convinced of sin. Not long 
after, through an address of Robert Alsop, of 
Maldon, her eyes were opened to see that the 
Lord Jesus was just the Saviour she needed, and 
she found peace to her troubled spirit. 

Before her marriage she lived for some years 
as governess in a Friend's family in Wales, and 
afterwards as companion to Catherine Massey, at 
Spalding ; from whence she was married to John 
Evens on Twelfth month 8th, 1853. They settled 
at Kingsland, where her daughter Agnes Mary 
was bom ; but after recovering from the small- 



LOUISA J. EVENS. 57 

pox, they removed on account of her health to 
Birchington in Kent, where her second daughter 
was bom ; and about two years later they went 
to Margate, where a son was added to the 
family. 

She had in this place much to contend with 
in hindering outward circumstances ; but never- 
theless she cheerfully gave her time and strength, 
as way opened for service ; and her spiritual in- 
sight into the needs of those she visited was often 
most helpful. She opened her house for a Mothers' 
Meeting, and also for a ladies' Bible Class in con- 
nection with the Young Women's Christian Asso- 
ciation, at first without any intention of con- 
ducting it herself ; but very soon it fell into her 
hands. It was largely attended and greatly 
appreciated, many realising in it much spiritual 
blessing and teaching. She also visited a large 
convalescent home called The Wilderness. On 
her first going there the inmates were quarrel- 
some and noisy. In one ward quite an uproar 
was raised ; but she persevered in her work week 
after week, and in time weeping took the place of 
swearing, and a marked change was seen in the 
inmates. 

At Margate she frequently spoke in meetings 
for worship, and her gift in the ministry was 



58 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

acknowledged soine years later by Alton, South- 
ampton, and Poole Monthly Meeting. 

In Twelfth month, 1869, the family removed 
to Southampton, and in the following month she 
writes in her diary : — " Many months have elapsed 
since I chronicled my thoughts and position, and 
here I am in a new place among unfamiliar faces, 
and in a very different locality. "Was it in the 
Lord's ordering that we came ; in His will that 
we took this little house ; according to His mind 
that we have ordered our going? Yes, the pleasant 
Sabbath bells far off seem redolent of peace, and 
there is peace within, though the change from a 
life of active service to one of spiritual idleness is 
proving.*' She could not bear to feel at any time 
that life was passing by without the Master's talents 
.being put out to the best advantage. But work 
soon presented, and she undertook the Bible 
Class at the Above Bar Chapel Sunday School. 
A member of the class writes : — " Her labours 
were inestimably valued, and to numbers of her 
scholars now scattered in the world many a recol- 
lection of hallowed hours spent in her class will 
come to refresh them. She was richly endowed 
with gifts as a teacher, her own study of the 
Bible being deep (in fact she seemed conversant 
with every part) combined with intensity of con- 



LOUISA J. EVENS. 59 

viction, gracloasness of manner, and large warm- 
hearted sympathy, which made her the confi- 
dential friend as well as the teacher of all who 
had the privilege of sitting at her feet and learn- 
ing of Him who was indeed to her, * The Life, 
the Truth, and the Way/ " 

For many years she also conducted a Mothers' 
Meeting at the meeting-house, at first in association 
with another Friend, though afterwards carried 
on by herself, until within a week or two of her 
death, when their grief at her loss showed how 
much the mothers had appreciated her work 
amongst them. They were loved by her and 
she by them, and they took a warm interest 
in all that concerned her and those near 
her. 

In the early part of 1873 a great trial 
awaited her in the very serious illness of her 
daughter Louisa ; which, though the mother's 
prayers were answered by her recovery, left her 
partially deaf. This was a sore grief to L. E. 
and a yet more tender affection was bestowed 
on this beloved daughter frotn that time. 

In the summer of the same year a special 
request for prayer was sent to the Mildmay 
Conference on behalf of "The Dark Places of 
the New Forest." A young friend attending 



60 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

the Conference heard the Lord's call to go and 
preach the Gospel to the people living there. 
She wrote to Louisa Evens, and found in her 
the practical sympathy and help she needed. 
The two were but slightly acquainted with 
eaoh other, but L. E. saw in the matter her 
Father's hand, and in simple faith went for- 
ward in the service. She opened her heart 
and home to her young friend, and went with 
her into the work. From this time the New 
Forest was a source of keen interest to her, 
and she continued to visit it from time to 
time up to Christmas, 1887, when she pleaded 
with the people, using the words: — "As it 
may be tlie last time I shall ever come amongst 
you, as we know not who may next be called 
home," and prophesying, as it were, in the 
earnestness of her address, that which we so 
little expected concerning herself. 

In 1874 she was summoned to Croydon to 
the sick-bed of her boy, who was at school there.. 
She writes of this : — " For a while there was- 

I 

a fierce battle. Could I yield my only son ? 
Yes, even so, through the grace given ; and 
then came the sweet assurance — ' Becaiise thou 
hast not withheld thy son, thy only one, I 
will bless thee.' So I knew ere I reached my 



LOUISA J* EVENS. 61 

boy that death had no power, for the Lord of 
life was there." 

The summer of 1877 was spent in the New 
Forest, whither for a few months the family 
removed, and daring this time a General Meet- 
ing was held there. In the autamn they went 
to reside at Milbrook, near Southampton, wher& 
they remained till a few weeks before her 
death. Her home, like her heart, was always- 
open, a warm welcome awaited those who> 
entered, and they were not " visitors," but 
members of the family at once. Her sympathy 
with the joys and sorrows of others was of noi 
common kind, and often, when her own heart 
was oppressed with care, the best way to cheer 
her was to bring her into contact with some- 
fresh object to call it forth. In conversation 
she was not only a most interesting and ori- 
ginal speaker, but, what perhaps it is moie- 
rare to iind, a really interested listener. 

In Sixth month, 1879, she was thrown from* 
her pony carriage — the first of a series of accidents- 
which happened to her. Two years later she 
slipped on the pavement and seriously injured 
her wrist, which caused her much suffering. She- 
placed herself under the care of Mr. Hutton, and 

was always grateful for the help he gave her, 

o 



62 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

though it was not without intense agony. In 
the spring of 1882, a far more serious accident 
occurred ; a stone wall under which she was 
walking fell and crushed her beneath its weight. 
Weeks of fearful suffering followed. One who 
helped to nurse her through this says, " It was 
my greatest privilege to wait on her ; her patience 
and thoughtfulness for others throughout was 
wonderful ; and if the pain of being moved forced 
any sound from her, she always apologised for it, 
being so afraid we should think she was hurt 
needlessly. It was a never-to-be-forgotten lesson 
to us of patience in suffering." 

As fioon as it was possible for her to walk on 
■crutches she was back at her beloved work at 
the Sunday schooL Though in much bodily 
weakness, her spiritual strength was greatly in- 
creased, and at times, when many would have 
succumbed, she was to the fore in various " mis- 
sions." It was not long before she believed it to 
be her duty to go for the second time to the 
Channel Islands. She was accompanied by her 
husband, her friend S. B. S. Clarke and others. 
A wheeled chair was taken with them for her use, 
and notwithstanding her crippled condition she 
was able joyfully to perform the service, though 
in her graphic way she wrote to a friend : — " My 



LOUISA J. EVENS. 63 

« 

knee is worse and worse ; there is no apparent 

inflammation, but the pain sometimes is ! ! ! 

The dear folk come home and scramble me off to 
some meeting in hot haste ; the streets are nearly 
like house sides, and it takes me too long to walk 
up with my crutches, and I dare not go down at 
all, so I*m perforce trundled along." 

Shortly afterwards she held several meetings 
in company with a dear friend at Cardiff, Ross, 
Almeley, &c. 

A visit from a friend who believed in " faith 
healing" caused her to write in her diary, 
" Ought I to be cured ? I do not feel as if it was 
want of faith, so much as the will of God that I 
should remain ilL I think I would not choose 
if I could. Only let me abide in Thee, and if I 
sin in not being cured, show me Thy way, and 
grant me power to be healed." 

In Eleventh month, 1883, she became aware 
of her daughter Louisa's conviction that it was 
right for her to offer herself for mission work in 
India. With many anxieties pressing upon her, 
a weak and suffering body, and the feeling that 
was often with her that the end was not far off, 
it was hard indeed to resign her much loved 
daughter, who had nursed her devotedly through 
her terrible sufferings. She was no stoic, but of 



«64 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

an intensely sensitive and highly-strung nature, 
4ind the sacrifice was very real. At the annual 
meeting of the Friends* Foreign Mission Associa- 
tion, when her daughter's name was mentioned 
as one to start that year, the mother's voice was 
raised in public dedication and prayer for her 
dear child. 

On the 19th of Eleventh month, 1886, she 
writes : — " Louie sailed in the Mifza'porej for 
India. . . . My precious child ! The Master has 
indeed been training her many years for her 
appointed work, and I am blessed in that so near 
and dear a child should be chosen of Him." 

Her daughter Agnes had been married the 
previous winter, and the following spring she 
paid a long visit to her at Sunderland, and wel- 
comed to her loving heart a little grandson. A 
year of trial and fsdling health followed, and in 
the spring of 1888, when really ill herself, she 
was summoned to the sick bed of her sister, who 
had been taken suddenly with a stroke of para- 
lysis. On her return from Norwich, she went to 
Alton to spend a week with an intimate friend, 
in hope that the rest would do her good. Mind 
and body were both weakened by illness and 
euffering, but her conversation was full of life and 
freshness ; and though oppressed with many 



LOUISA J. EVENS. 65 

cares, there was a deep-down current of peace 
and happiness in the Lord. 

A few weeks later she went to stay at her 
son's house in Southampton. There she was 
taken much worse with an attack of pleurisy ; 
other symptoms followed, so that very rapidly 
she hecame unconscious, and, surrounded hy 
loving hearts, who gladly ministered to her needs, 
the suffering body fell asleep and the soul awoke 
in the presence of her Lord. 
Qeorqe F. Fairbrothbr, 

Beamsville, Ontario, 48 7 3 mo. 1888 
Joshua Fatle, 54 20 8 mo. 1888 

RiclcTnansworth, 
Joshua Q. Fennell, 76 7 4 mo. 1888 

Monkstown, Dublin. 
Edward Fisher, 83 24 3 mo. 1888 

Lockwood, near Hvddersjield. 
Sarah A. M. B. Flynn, 

Bessbrooh 42 18 7 mo. 1888 

An Elder. Wife of Thomas M. H. Flynn. 
Jake M. A. Fotheroill, 

Darlington. 71 25 4 mo. 1888 

Wife of William Fothergill. 
Ann Fox, St. AiistelL 83 5 3 mo. 1888 

An Elder. 
Eleanor Fry, 29 8 3 mo. 1888 



66 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Mundouy near Maldon. Daughter of Joseph S. 

and Eleanor Fry. 
Julia Fry, Bath. 72 14 3 mo. 1887 

Widow of Thomas Fry. 
Mart Frybr, 69 19 9 mo. 1888 

Birkenhead. Wife of George Fryer. 
Mary Ann Gillivbr, 55 20 1 mo. 1888 

Birmingham. Wife of William Gilliver. 
Emma C. Gilmore, 52 13 7 mo. 1888 

Stockton-on-Tees. Wife of John Gilmore. 
Robert W. Glaisyer, 16 2 9 mo. 1888 

York. Son of John and Mary Jane Glaisyer. 
Amy Green, 18 7 1 mo. 1888 

Dundrum, DMin. Daughter of John Green. 
Eliza S. Green, 60 16 11 mo. 1887 

WaJcefield. Wife of Robert Green. 
Edith Grimshaw, 16 9 12 mo. 1887 

Sunderland. Daughter of Charles W. and 

Margaret Grimshaw. 
Betsy Guy, Sedhergh. 69 14 7 mo. 1888 

Widow of John Guy. 
Joseph Haioh, 82 25 2 mo. 1888 

Birdsedge, Highflatts. 
Sarah Hale, Cardiff. 87 9 7 mo. 1887 

Formerly of Bristol. 
Sarah Hall, 69 1 1 mo. 1888 

Oxtony Birkenhead. Wife of Edward Hall. 



EMILT J. HABDING. 67 

Henry Hammer, 78 13 6 mo. 1888 

St Austell, 
Emily J. Harding, 64 28 12 mo. 1887 

Westerfieldy Ipswich. A Minister. Wife of 

Robert Harding. 
E. J. Harding was the daughter of the late 
William and Jane Matthews, and was born at 
Coggeshall, the 9th of First month, 1823. 

Having early lost her father, and being the 
only surviving daughter, she was her mother's 
companion till her marriage, excepting during 
her school-days. One of her school-fellows at 
Croydon describes her as an orderly, thoughtful, 
but lighthearted girl. During a few succeeding 
years spent at Ipswich, she appears to have passed 
through much mental conflict, and dates her more 
serious impressions from this period. After a 
severe illness, she removed with her mother to 
Kelvedon. 

On her marriage to Robert Harding in 1848, 
Bristol was their home for sixteen months ; but 
her health again giving way caused their return 
to her native county, where, at Braintree and 
Earls Colne, they spent the following seven years, 
till their removal to a farm at Great Henny, 
near Sudbury. Here she became increasingly 
interested in the poor around them, and circum- 



68 ANNUAL MONITOB. 

stances occurred which introduced her to the 
sphere of service in which for many subsequent 
years she was diligently engaged, the visiting of 
Union Workhouses. She was a warm advocate 
of total abstinence from the time of leaving 
school, and of late years her assistance was much 
sought in publicly promoting it 

During this time her journal indicates a 
deepening in personal religion, and an earnest 
desire for the advancement of the kingdom of 
Christ in her own heart, and in the hearts of 
those most dear to her. 

Her health seriously failiDg, in 1869 they 
removed to TVesterfield, near Ipswich, which was 
their congenial and peaceful residence during the 
remainder of her life. 

A little before this period, she first spoke as 
a minister in meeting, and in 1873 Woodbridge 
Monthly Meeting acknowledged her gift; after 
which on several occasions she united with her 
husband in religious engagements from home. 

In the winter of 1874-5, she had a severe 
attack of pleuro-pneumonia, from the effects of 
which she never quite recovered. Her own re- 
cord of this time will best describe her feelings. 

" To Thee, oh my Heavenly Father, would I 
offer that which Thou knowest Thou hast Thyself 



EMILY J. HARDING. 69 

in lovingkindness and tender mercy caused me to 
feel, even thanksgiving and praise for the restor- 
ing goodness which, after some months of weak- 
ness^ Thoa hast granted me. May it please 
Thee, if consistent with Thy will, still farther to 
permit a return to former health. But I desire 
to leave the future in Thy hands, knowing that 
Thou hast done and wilt do all things well ; only 
grant, I beseech Thee, for Thy dear Son's sake, 
that I may profit by all Thy dealings, and be- 
come in all things increasingly conformed to Thy 
holy will. I long to be holy. 

''For some time I was extremely ill, but, 
when conscious, was graciously permitted to feel 
* the Eock ' firm beneath my feet. In view of 
the slender thread of life being severed, very 
solemn feelings came over me ; the purity and 
holiness of God, the Being before whom I seemed 
in vision to stand ; the sins of my childhood, 
girlhood and womanhood, rose np before ijie; but, 
thanks be unto Him, not then to condemn me. 
His forgiving mercy in Christ Jesus having in 
the time of health been graciously experienced, 
60 that the sweet assurance was granted, that if 
taken I should be 'accepted in the Beloved. i 
While detained in the border-land, I was taken 
as it seemed, near the abode of the lost, but the 



70 AlINUAL MONITOR. 

entrance remained in mercy closed. Then I 
seemed carried to the very gates of heaven, which 
were open, and from whence issued songs of joy 
and praise. An intimation was given, something 
like — * Not yet ; I have more work for thee to do 
yet.' . . . One feeling is often uppermost, the 
uncertainty of life, the privilege of serving so 
faithful a God, and the desire to be used of Him 
in gathering souLs to the precious Saviour. Ah ! 
His preciousness was indeed felt, when very 
prostrate, when everything else, anything like 
good works, were but as filthy rags ... I would 
conclude this entry as I began, with an ascription 
of praise to Him who bringeth low and raiseth 
up again. I can unite in the lines — 

* I would not but have passed those depths, 
And such communion known, 
As can be held in the Border land 
With Him and Him alone.* 

The truth and beauty of these lines are much 
increased since the experience of the past.'' 

For some months she was confined at home, 
but records her hope, '^ that it may please Thee 
oh, my Heavenly Father, to permit me to remain 
a sojourner here awhile, and a worker for Thee 
in the great harvest field." 

This desire was graciously answered, and, 



XMILT J. HARDIKO. 71 

after some weeks spent in the Channel Islands, 
she was able to enter on an enlarged sphere of 
labour in her Master's service, especially in visit- 
ing the inmates of the neighbouring union work- 
houses, as well as those in other districts, when 
from home on religious service in England, 
Ireland, and the Channel Islands. She ever 
found an open door, and in no case was she re- 
fused the desired interview, but was often pressed 
to repeat the visit. Her memoranda disclose 
her earnest endeavour to raise her hearers to a 
higher tone in life, and to point the sinner to 
Christ. In this service she was much blessed, 
not only to the regidar inmates, but also to the 
tramps, whom she met on First-days, and often 
under her tender pleading the hardened sinner 
was contrited as she told him of the love of God 
in Christ Jesus. 

Cheerfulness was a marked feature in her 
character, and as she became more decided in her 
Christian course she ever strove to exemplify the 
brightness and happiness which she felt should 
result from this, desiring to impress, especially 
upon the young, that true religion is not a gloomy 
thing but a happy and joyous possession. She 
had naturally a very keen sense and enjoyment 
of the ludicrous, but, believing there was a snare 



72 ANNUAL MONITOB. 

in its undue indulgence, she was enabled by 
DiviDe grace largely to keep it in subjection. 

During the last thirteen years of her life she 
was diligently engaged in Qospel labour and in 
the public and private advocacy of total ab- 
stinence, social purity, and preventive work. 

In the autumn of 1886 she was prostrated by 
illness, from which she partially recovered, so as 
to be able to attend Ipswich Meeting in the Sixth 
month following, when she was early engaged in 
thanksgiving and prayer, followed by impressive 
testimony. During the heat of the summer her 
weakness increased and disease of the lungs 
further developed, attended with cough and much 
pain, so that there was no prospect of recovery. 
It was a time of again proving the foundation of 
her faith. She felt deeply her own unworthiness 
and short-coming, but the assurance was granted 
that through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus, 
she was accepted for His sake. There were times 
when the enemy was permitted to try her with a 
feeling of irritability, but her prayers for patience 
were remarkably answered, and she realised more 
and more the peace of God which passes under- 
standing, often repeating, as her own experience, 
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose 
mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in 



EMILT J. HARDING. 73 

Thee/' adding '' Peace, perfect peace ; all is peace ; 
it is heaven begun on earth." 

Once, when speaking of the past, she said, 
'* I have had strong prejudices, but they are all 
gone. When I became a Christian, I tried hard 
to overcome them." She requested that a message 
of her love and interest might be given to the 
Friends of her Monthly Meeting. " Tell them 
that now on a sick bed, I find nothing that can 
give peace and comfort, but the forgiving love of 
God in Christ Jesus. What should I do now 
without a Saviour? I long that they may be 
kept on the right foundation, Jesus Christ ; that 
they may use all diligence while in health and 
strength, in serving the Lord, and know the peace 
and happiness which follow, and not have to 
regret, as I have done, opportunities lost." 

She much enjoyed having her favourite 
portions of [Scripture read ; the 21st and 22nd 
chapters of Eevelation were many times chosen. 
The 34th Psalm especially expressed her feelings ; 
and hymns were a source of comfort and cheer 
She also found comfort in hearing the accounts 
in the Annual Monitor of those who had trodden 
the path before her. 

During the last few weeks^ though her weak- 
ness was extreme, there was very little pam. 

H 



74 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Thankfulness and praise filled her heart for her 
many blessings and alleviations. ''My mercies 
are so many," she sometimes said. 

The faithful attentions of an excellent Chris- 
tian nurse, and the love and kindness of all aroxmd 
her. were gratefully acknowledged as proo£s of 
her Heavenly Father's love ; and, whilst feel- 
ing tenderly with her dear husband in the pros- 
pect of separation, she desired that there might be 
a cheerful submission to the Lord's will, saying, 
" We have had a very happy life together ; we 
have been greatly blessed." 

On one occasion she said to her husband, 
^' Dearest, if when the end draws near I am unable 
to speak, don't think I am not peaceful ; I am 
peaceful now ; trustful, as in the hollow of His 
hand. It is nothing but the sufficiency of the 
grace of God that has enabled me to bear, with 
any degree of patience, what this illness has 
brought upon me. I do wish all to know that it 
is ' not by works of righteousness that we have 
done, but according to His mercy He saveth us.' 
I wish to make no boast of the wonderful amount 
of patience that has been granted me for many 
week?, but to magnify the grace of God, beseech- 
ing every one, especially the young, to believe in 
the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of their 



EMILT J. HABDINO. 75 

souls. I wish, as long as I am able, to testify to 
the sufficiency of the grace of God.'* 

For many days near the end, there was little 
expression, but continued peace and unmurmur- 
ing submission. On Christmas evening she was 
especially bright, and able to listen to reading. 
The last day she was very drowsy ; there was 
much change as the night advanced. She asked, 
^ Can this be death ? Am I going home V* She 
was able lovingly to recognise her dear husband 
and others in the room, and responded with ^ 
sweet smile to the lines : — 

** Though painful at present, 
'Twill cease before long ; 
And then, oh, how pleasant 
The conqueror's songt ' . 

Power of speech failed, and after half an hour 
cf tmconsciousness she gently ceased to breathe 
in the early morning of the 28th of Twelfth 
month. 
Elizabeth C. Harding, 40 4 4 mo. 1888 

Beading, Wife of Albert Harding. 
Maat Harris, Kendal 68 6 10 mo. 1887 

A Minister. Widow of John Harris. 
Sidney C. Harris, 2 22 12 mo. 1887 

Northampton, Son of Sidney and Annie 

Harris. 



76 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

John Hartlby, 88 14 3 mo. 1888 

Hagg Foot^ near Kendal, 
Joshua Harvey, M.D., 84 28 11 mo; 1887 

Ihiblin. 
Thomas Buxton Hawksworth, 

66 28 5 mo. 1888 

Woodview, near Neupton Abbot. 
Barbara J. Helsdon, 8 8 7 mo. 1888 

Hertford, Daughter of James and Elizabeth 

Helsdon. 
Eliza Hodgson^ 43 20 3 mo. 1888 

JDewsbury. Wife of Charles Hodgson. 
Joseph HoLDEN, 70 18 7 mo. 1888 

Shipton. 
HicHARD Liberty Hopkins, 

48 19 11 mo. 1886 

Milton, Brisbane, Queensland, 
Maria Horne, 68 21 12 mo. 1887 

Marks Tey, Essex, 
Mary Horsnaill, 89 1 1 mo. 1888 

Dover, Widow of William Horsnaill. 
Mary Huntley, 75 20 1 mo. 1888 

Beading, An Elder. Wife of Joseph Huntley. 
William Sewell Hunton, . 

Hastings, 34 3 11 mo. 1887 

Son of the late William and Eliza Hunton, of 

St. John's Wood. 



ANNUAL MONITOR. 77 

Mary Ann Jackson, 58 10 7 mo. 1888 

Stoke Newington, Wife of Thomas Jackson. 

Anne Jacob, 80 16 11 mo. 1887 

Waterford» 

Jane Tatlor Jacob, 80 2 6 mo. 1888 

Cork, 

George J. Johnson, 11 14 1 mo. 1888 

Chelmsford, Son of Francis and Elizabeth. 

Johnson. 

I 

Hannah Jones, 61 7 4 mo. 1888 

Low Conmscliffey near Stockton-ovrTees, Wife of 

George Jones. 
Mart Kendal, 87 17 4 mo. 1888 

Burton-in-Lonsdale, Widow of John Kendal. 
Sarah Kenway, 80 24 4 mo. 1888 

Clifton, Bristol. 
Susan Kerr, Jnn. 16 10 8 mo. 1888 

Orange, Co, Tp-one, Daughter of Thomas and 

Susan Kerr. 
Mercy King, 68 22 9 mo. 1888 

St, Anne's, fiear Lytham, Widow of David 

King. 
Sarah Kitching, 84 5 4 mo. 1888 

Bewdley, Wife of Joseph Kitching. 
George Horne Labrey, 

Baihmines, Dublin, 23 18 10 mo. 1887 

Son of John Labrey. 



78 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Anna Elizabeth Lamb, 51 20 11 mo. 1887 

Bathgar, Dublin. 
Lydia Lanet, 79 15 12 mo. 1887 

Banwell, near SidcoL Wife of Samuel Laney. 
Martha Keeve Leeds, 78 8 6 mo. 1888 

Norwood. Wife of Lewis W. Leeds, of Geiman- 

town, Philadelphia. 
Frederick Tindall Le Tall, 

48 20 11 mo. 1887 

Handsworth Woodhouse, near Sheffield, 
Thomas Lister, 78 25 3 mo. 1888 

BarnsUy* 
Thomas Lister was widely known amongst 
Friends of the last generation. Fifty years ago 
he travelled extensively for the purpose of pro- 
curing subscribers to a volume of his own poems 
entitled the "Rustic Wreath," and his lively 
originality of character made him a welcome 
visitor in many homes. 

Bom a member of the Society of Friends and 
educated at Ackworth School, he early developed 
poetic and literary tastes; and, whilst quite a 
young man, attracted the notice of the late Earl 
of Carlisle, then Lord Morpeth, into whose com- 
pany he was thrown during one of that nobleman's 
election tours in the West Hiding. Thomas 
Lister was at that time following the humble 



THOMAS LISTEB. 79 

occupation of a carter in Barnsley. His intro- 
duction to Lord Morpeth was speedily followed 
by an offer of more congenial employment as 
postmaster of his native town. An unexpected 
obstacle, however, presented itself ; an oath was 
then required to be taken by all post-office officials, 
and Thomas Lister felt himself unable to comply 
with that to which he felt a conscientious objec- 
jection. He accordingly relinquished the ofifered 
post, explaining to his patron, in a grateful letter 
of thanks, the reason for his refusal. Struck by 
the firmness of his young friend, Lord Morpeth 
made further inquiries into the subject, and was 
instrumental in passing through Parliament a 
measure which permitted the substitution of a 
simple declaration instead of an oath in such cases. 
The office shortly afterwards again became vacant, 
and was once more offered to Thomas Lister, 
who accepted its responsibilities, and for many 
years performed its duties with much acceptance 
amongst his townsmen. In this position he was 
greatly aided by the energy and business ability 
of his wife, to whom he was married about the 
time of his removal to the post-office. 

Hannah Lister was not, however, at this time 
a Friend, and, in accordance with the then pre- 
vailing practice in the Society, her husband had 



80 ANNUAL MONITOR 

to relinquisli his membership. Many years after^ 
wards, however, he was invited by Pontefract 
Monthly Meeting to resume his forfeited position^ 
and during the latter period of his life he became 
a valued member of the little meeting at Barnsley. 
Soon after this occurrence his wife was also ad- 
mitted, at her own request. 

During the many years of comparative leisure 
which followed T. Lister's retirement from his 
official duties, he was much absorbed in literary 
and scientific pursuits. He was a well-known 
figure at the meetings of the British Association, 
and occasionally contributed short papers to its 
proceedings. An ardent naturalist and a keen 
observer of the works of the Great Creator, he 
delighted to collect around him those interested 
in kindred subjects, to whom he freely imparted 
his own stores of knowledge. 

He early became impressed with the impor- 
tance of the Temperance cause, and was a well- 
known advocate of its claims in his own district. 
Though usually reticent on religious subjects, he 
possessed a reverent and devout mind; and in his 
later years showed an increasing appreciation of 
the claims of religion, as well as of the interests 
of the Church with which he was identified. 
Entertaining a very humble estimate of himself 



THOMAS LISTER. 81 

epiritually, he was still ever ready to defend 
what he bel ieved to be right and true, and in his 
intercourse with others was often faithful in 
bearing his testimony against what he felt to be 
wrong. He evinced a strong interest in the 
Friends' Adult School in Barnsley, and his latest 
public appearance was on its platform, when he 
delivered a short address to the men present 

In 1882 Thomas Lister passed through one 
of the greatest sorrows of his life in the removal 
from his side of his wife, after a happy and help- 
ful union of more than forty years. 

His own last illness was of short duration. 
In the spring of 1888 he returned home from a 
few weeks' stay at Matlock, apparently much 
benefited by the change ; but shortly afterwards 
an attack of bronchitis, supervening on a slight 
paralytic seizure, proved too much for his already 
broken health, and after a few days of restlessness 
and suffering he passed away. Though his last 
hours were not marked by much religious expres- 
sion, it is believed that he rested on the true 

Foundation, His evident enjoyment in listening 

■ 

to the precious promises of Holy Scripture was 
cheering and confirming. 

His funeral, which was largely attended by 
all classes of his neighbours, as well as by many 



82 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

from a distance, was felt to be an occasion of much 
solemnity, and several striking testimonies were 
borne to the general appreciation felt for hi» 
character. 

Jane Little, Carlisle, 63 22 12 mo. 1887 
John Eeles Littleboy, 62 3 8 mo. 1888 
Hunton Bridge, near Watford, 

J. E. Littleboy was taken at short notice &om 
a life of much usefulness. For some years the 
death of his wife, and the marriage of his only 
child, had rendered his lot a solitary one. Being 
liberated from family cares he devoted himself to 
the good of those around him, being more parti- 
cularly engaged in Temperance work, and his 
place will not be easily filled. 

He was an attached member of the Society 
of Friends, and a frequent attender of the Meeting 
for Sufferings, where his presence and help were 
appreciated. 

In the course of his last illness he gave no 
uncertain testimony that his hope for eternity 
rested upon the love of God in Christ Jesus. 
Elizabeth Long, 63 17 12 mo. 1887 

Teddington, Wife of Charles Long, late of 
Saffron Walden. 
Joseph Lucas, 52 12 11 mo. 1887 

Sunderland, 



ANNUAL MONITOR. 83 

William Lunt, 71 30 12 mo. 1887 

Stoke-on-TrerU. 
Jane Magkib, — 15 1 mo. 1887 

Newport, Isle of Wight, Widow of Benjamin 

Mackie. 
Patsr MACKINNON, 56 19 4 mo. 1888 

North Ormesby. 
Hannah Mainwaring, 68 25 7 mo. 1888 

Upcott, Almeley, 
William Malonb, 38 15 6 mo. 1888 

Dvhlin, 
Lucy Marriagx, 71 4 1 mo. 1888 

Colchester, Wife of Edward Marriage. 
Sophia Marrl^gb, 82 24 4 mo. 1888 

Chelmsford, A Minister. 
£lL£N. Marsh, Jlfarpae^. 76 20 11 mo. 1887 

Widow of Edward Marsh. 
Emily Mason, 67 24 5 mo. 1888 

Tramore, WaJterford, 
Eric Stafford Maw, 10 10 6 mo. 1888 

Sudbury, Son of Samuel A. and Edith M. Maw 
Frederick Mawbr, 45 6 7 mo. 1888 

€heUenha/m, 
Sarah Mills, 71 27 2 mo. 1888 

RochddU, An Elder. Wife of James Mills. 
WilllalM Milward, 58 18 2 mo. 1888 

Rwhmondy Surrey, 



84 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Anne MoRaAN, Boss. 85 31 12 mo. 1887 

Hannah Morland, 89 19 7 mo. 1888 
Croydon, An Elder. Widow of John Morland. 

William Eussell Morris^ 
Kingstown, Dublin. 40 19 11 mo. 1887 

Ernest S. Morrison, 2 22 3 mo. 1888 
Ballintore, Son of Joseph and Rebekah Morri- 
son. 

James Turtle Neale, 38 2 12 mo. 1887 
Kanturk, Co, Cork, Son of Henry Neale. 

Marianne Nicholson, 85 22 12 mo. 1887 
Headingley, Leeds, Widow of W. F. Nichol- 
son, of Whitehaven. 

Marianne Noakes, 62 23 10 mo. 1888 
EedMll, Wife of Richard Noakes. 

Mary E. Pakbman, 36 5 12 mo. 1886 
East London, So^ith Africa, Wife of A. Pake- 
man. 

Margaret A. Parker, 40 11 11 mo. 1886 
Durham, Wife of James Parker. 

Giles Partington, 72 10 1 mo. 1888 
Bolton, 

Elizabeth Pearce, 57 16 12 mo. 1887 
Derby, Wife of Orlando Pearce. 

Harrison Penney, 60 27 3 mo. 1888 

Darlington. A Minister. 
Harrison Penney was bom at Poole, in Dor- 



HARBISON FENin&T. 85 

setsliire, on the 2l8t of Eleyentk month, 1827. 
His school days were spent at Croydon. At the 
close of his apprenticeship to the stationery and 
pripting business with Arthur Wallis at Brighton, 
be left for Loodon ; but he shortly afterwards 
purchased a business in Darlington, which he 
carried on till his decease, a period of nearly 
forty years. He was kindly received by Friends 
in his new location, and was soon actively en- 
gaged during spare time in Temperance and other 
work. 

In 1852 he married Maria I' Anson, of Bishop 
Auckland, and speaks of the period of their union 
as " thirty years of as happy married life as falls 
to the lot of any.'' 

In 1864, H. P. believed it his duty to accom- 
pany Isaac Sharp on a religious visit to Green- 
land. Only those who have passed through a 
somewhat similar experience can realise what it 
cost him to leave a, loving wife and little chil- 
dren to venture on such a journey. They sailed 
from Hull in Fourth month, 1864, and reached 
the scene of their labours after a voyage of about 
six weeks. The hearts of the missionaries in 
that lone land were greatly cheered by the visit, 
and the voyagers returned in the Eleventh month, 
and found aU well at home. H. P. looked back 

I 



^6 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

upon the journey with feelings of deep thankful- 
ness for preservation from many dangers ; but he 
felt that it had been somewhat marred by what 
he deemed an act of unfaithfulness in not accom- 
panying Isaac Sharp on a little visit to an out- 
lying settlement. The homeward-bound vessel, 
ready to sail, was waiting day by day for the 
•clearing of the ice, and he greatly dreaded the 
severance from home during an Arctic winter, 
should the skin boat, by which they must go to 
the settlement, not return in time for the sailing 
of the ship. Isaac Sharp did so return, and 
always felt that his companion and fellow- 
labourer was fully justified in going only a small 
part of the journey. 

Harrison Penney was recorded a minister in 
3875, and in 1880 his family moved to the village 
of Gainford, the dear wife and mother being much 
•out of health. His presence at the small meeting 
there was much appreciated, as also at the Wes- 
leyan and Congregational chapels. He took espe- 
•cial delight in cottage meetings, where those who 
^thered loved to hear his simple, homely, earnest 
words. 

The death of his wife in 1882 caused a blank 
which he deeply felt for the rest of his life, so 
entirely were they united by the bonds of Chris- 



HARRISON PENNEY. 8T 

tian fellowship and deep affection. His children 
always felt that they had his entire sympathy in 
all that interested them. After the return fromr 
Sunday school, lecture, or walk, his greeting was 
'^ Tell me all you have seen or done;" so that they 
felt that he was mother as well as father to them, 
his presence always bringing joy and the assurance 
that all would be right if he were there. 

At the end of 1882 H. P. joined many other 
Friends in conducting a General Meeting in 
Birmingham, and greatly enjoyed the social and 
religious intercourse thus afforded. His service 
both in private and public was helpful to many» 
Referring to one occasion, he writes : '' I gave 
such advice and comfort as I could, promising to 
help with my prayers. How many there are 
who long for Christian communion, a fellow- 
creature's ear into which to unburden anxiety 
and care. They well know that there is an ear 
ever open to their cry, and into this hearing ear 
they do tell their troubles ; but still they long 
for more of the communion of saints. Why are 
the saints so reluctant to speak one to another ? 

In the spring of 1884 he received a minute 
from his Monthly Meeting, encouraging him to 
visit Friends of Sussex, Surrey and Hants, 
his native Quarterly Meeting. He held social 



88 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

religious meetings at most of the places Le 
visited, a service for wliich he was eminently 
qualified. 

His unaffected love for all his fellow-creatures 
led him to take a personal interest in every one 
whom he met. *' The little child running into 
his shop to ask a simple question ; the stranger 
to Darlington entering for the first time to make a 
purchase ; and the apparently hopeless drunkard 
encouraged by him to one more effort to reform, 
alike felt that Harrison Penney was their true 
friend." He used to say he had preached more 
sermons over his shop-counter than in any other 
way. His firnmess in consistently following out 
what he thought to be right was carried into the 
smallest matters. Any one wishing him to sell 
raffling tickets — a circus or theatre manager 
wanting bills printed — was always met with a 
refusal so kind and straightforward, coupled with 
a little well-chosen advice, that it was seldom 
known to give offence. 

After the death of Charles I'Anson, Harrison 
Penney took his First-day afternoon service at 
the Hospital. This grew to be one of his chief 
delights, and a real interest he took in the poor 
sufferers who eagerly looked for his bright and 
happy face, as well as for the cheering and com- 



HAERISON PENNEY, 89 

forting words with which he was wont to greet 
them. The "little service," as he used to say 
they were pleased to call it, but he preferred 
some simpler word, consisted of hymns which 
the patients generally selected, sometimes learn- 
ing to sing them on purpose to give him pleasure, 
and a very simple exposition of some Bible 
narrative. One of the hymns sung at the last 
these happy times, was that which begins, — 

* Only a little while 

Of walking with weary feet, 
Patiently over the thorny way 
That leads to the golden street." 

And the last verse is, — 

*' Only a little while, 

For toiling a few short days ; 
And then comes the rest, the quiet rest^ 
Eternity's endless praise.*' 

And in a very " few short days " there came for 
him the rest, " the quiet rest — Eternity's endless 
praise." He would often visit those who had 
returned to their homes, some restored, some 
never to be well again. On one occasion he 
joined in a social gathering of the friends of a 
mill-girl who had been injured, but who, on re- 
turning home restored to health, had invited her 
companions to join her at tea. One of his last 
aets of kindness was to write a letter three days 



90 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

before his death to a patient in whom he was 
much interested) which illustrates his usual kind 
thoughtfulness. 

" Dear , I am sorry that I have lately 

spent so little time by your bedside, being per- 
haps too long in the other rooms, and then hurried 
away to the Young Men's Christian Association. 
Still I have thought much about yoa, and so 
warmly desire that you may see clearly that 
Jesus is your own, your personal Saviour. We 
know we are sinners, and that a sinner must 
have a Saviour, or he cannot enter Heaven. 
There is no choice of Saviours, and there need not 
he, for in Jesus we have all that can be needed : 
tens of thousands have proved it. So, my dear 
friend, lay every hindering weight, difficulty, or 
doubt, on one side, and, in simple faith, ask Him 
to take you as you are, and He will be sure to 
do so, and give you peace and rest and strength 
to bear your sickness. 

" I am sorry I am not likely to see you 
to-morrow, though I am better. My love is to 
you alV* 

Visitors to his family were often taken to 
see the matron, and those under her care, whom 
he spoke of as " my poor friends at the hospital." 

The cause of Peace was especially near to 



HARRISON PENNET. 91 

his heart, and many were the commanications 
on this subject which passed between him and 
military men who were connected with various 
religious efforts. In 1881 he issued " An Appeal 
to those who bear the name of Christian, and 
who hold commissions in the army and navy ; " 
and much interesting correspondence resulted 
between him and soldiers who were identified 
with Christian work. 

During the last two years of Harrison Pen- 
ney's life his strength was very much reduced by 
severe bilious attacks, which returned periodically, 
causing intense pain. At the first symptoms he 
would say, " 'Tis my old visitor coming again." 
Harrogate, Ilkley, and Bournemouth were visited 
in quest of restored strength, the latter a few 
months before his death. 

The last First-day on which he took his 
usual duties, and when he was taken ill, was one 
full of work for his Master. He accompanied 
his daughter and niece to meeting in the morning; 
in the afterpoon he went as usual to his little 
service at the hospital ; then to the Bible Class 
at the Young Men's Christian Association, and 
from thence he walked out to a little village 
chapel where he was to take the service. Be- 
coming very ill, he was not able to go into the 



92 ANNUAL KONITOR. 

chapel, and returned home suffering intensely. 
His family did not anticipate so severe an attack 
as usual, but the end of the week found him very 
weak and wishing to be quite quiet, having no 
inclination to rouse himself, though he was down- 
stairs and comparatively free from pain. When 
a friend visited him for a few minutes in the 
evening of his last First-day on earth he said : — 
"This has been a poor day, no work for the 
Master ; " but his beautiful patience and love for 
every one was a work for Him. The complaint 
unexpectedly took the form of blood-poisoning, 
and he quickly sank, and died on Third-day, the 
27th of Third month. Several of his children 
were absent, but quickly returned, missing in- 
tensely the loving, hearty welcome, which had 
always been given by their beloved father, whose 
next welcome would be to the Heavenly Home. 
The funeral was attended by a great number 
of people representing all classes. Several ministers 
of the town, thinking it was a fitting occasion for 
a memorial meetinpf, arranged for this on the 
following evening. Universal sorrow and respect 
were shown by a crowded gathering in the chief 
public hall of the town. One speaker very truly 
said that if Harrison Penney could have been 
consulted about such a meeting he would have 



JANE FBIESTMAN. 93 

said : ^ If it is your wish to exalt the Master, have 

it ', but if the mom^ I should say emphatically 

No." 

Jane Pebcival, 87 9 9 mo. 1888 

Bturgh-hy-Sands, Carlisle, Widow of John 

Percival. 
Elizabeth Petchell^ 91 6 10 mo. 1888 

Hull, Widow of Samuel Petchell. 
Sophia Peters, 81 9 6 mo. 1888 

Clevedon, Widow of John Peters. 
Ltdia Pim, Carlow, 89 18 5 mo. 1888 

Susanna Pim, 50 6 1 mo. 1888 

Monkstown, Dvhlin, Wife of Thomas Pim, Jun. 
Ann Platt, 67 3 7 mo. 1888 

Westkoughton, Wife of James Platt. 
Jane Pbiestman, 85 6 6 mo. 1888 

Manninghanif Bradford, An Elder. Widow 

of Joshua Priestman. 
Jane Priestman was the widow of Joshua 
Priestmau, of ThorntoD, near Pickering. She 
was not one who often spoke of her Christian 
experience, but the reality of her faith was plainly 
manifest to all with whom she came in contact. 

The greater part of her life was spent at 
Thornton, where she took a leading interest in 
all the village institutions that were calculated to 
help both old and young, either in religious or 



94 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

secular matters, and in a quiet way brought joy 
to many of the poor and needy. 

Her bright and cheerful spirit was conspi* 
cuous during a long and painful illness. She 
frequently expressed her thankfulness for the 
many mercies by which she was surrounded, and 
spoke of her faith in the Saviour whom she had 
long loved and delighted to serve. He was her 
strength and her stay, and we rejoice in believing 
that His promise has been realised to her, '' Where 
I am, there shall also my servant be." 
John Bichabdson Proctsr, 

76 11 10 mo. 1888 
Clenienthorpe, North Shields, An Elder. 

In the obituary last year, we simply recorded 
the name of Lydia Mildred Procter, and now, at 
the close of another, it is ours to add that of her 
father, John Bichardson Procter, who, though in 
comparative health, was called home after an ill« 
ness of only about forty-eight hours. In the case 
of the daughter there were weeks of alternation 
between hope and fear, and many hours for her of 
pain and failing strength, which she bore with 
true patience and cheerful acquiescence in her 
Heavenly Father's will. 

It was different with the dear father, who, 
up to this time, bad been able regularly to pur* 



JOHN BICHARDSON PROCTER. 95 

sue his duties, public and private, when, after 
attending a somewhat prolonged sitting of the 
Eiver Tyne Commission, he hurried up the hill to 
the railway station, and on reaching home a 
serious attack afifecting the heart's action came 
on. He partially rallied during the following 
day, though the presence of pain and diminution 
of strength clearly showed his critical condition. 
Of this he seemed fully aware, but it found him 
calm and trustful, willing to " lie passive" in the 
hand of a loving Father ; and, though sensible 
that he was entering *' the dark valley," able to 
acknowledge the Saviour's presence, and that 
there was " light beyond." 

He was the son of Joseph and Elizabeth 
Procter, of North Shields. His father died when 
he was only two years old, and his mother when 
he was eight, leaving a family of six children, 
who, though so young, continued in after life to 
feel her influence. She was a most affectionate 
and devoted mother, yet she was enabled to leave 
her dear children in the faith that they would be 
cared for ; and in the case of each of them this 
seamed remarkably fulfilled. On the 16th of 
Sixth month, 1847, J. R. P. was married to Lydia 
Bichardson, the daughter of William and Martha 
Eichardson, of Cherry Hill, York, a union 



96 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

which was permitted to contiaue for fortj-one 
years. 

J. B. Procter was a regular aittender of the 
meetings of the Society, in the welfare of which 
he took a great interest. He was never called to 
the ministry, nor did he speak much on religious 
subjects. When taking part in the business 
meetings of Friends, or in public affairs, his 
utterances were usually short, but clear and direct 
as regards the point at issue, and it has been re- 
marked that his judgment was good, his toleration 
large, and his kindly catholic spirit slow to con- 
demn, and quick to approve. 

He had a very humble estimate of his own 
Christian attainments, but was ever desirous to- 
be found in the path of duty, and it has been 
felt that in his daily life and example he has 
often been permitted to be a blessing to those 
around. 

He was a peacemaker in every sense of the 
word ; a lover of peace in the abstract, and in 
every-day life. The cheerful goodwill and kind- 
liness of disposition which characterised him, 
together with the large degree of consistent ad- 
herence to a high standard of Chriistian duty in 
his daily life and dealings with others, were, as it 
has since been made evident;, a living sermon to* 



JOHN RICHARDSON PROCTER. QT 

many. Perhaps we may be allowed to quote a 
few lines from a letter written by a friend to one 
of his sons shortly after his death, which seems- 
to us to put into few words some of the points of 
character which have caused him to be lovingly 
regarded by so many of tliose who knew him. 
" My memory goes back to the time when your 
father visited York before his marriage, and 
when we, who were then children, knew him 
as a Friend who was kind to boys. Now, for 
many years, I have been able to understand 
something of the rare excellence and beauty of 
his character ; a gentleness that would never 
willingly give ofl'ence, combined with an un- 
bending firmness on all matters of principle, and 
a judgment so sound and clear that one always 
suspected the truth of one's own conclusions if 
they differed from his. I apprehend that this 
power of judgment was not merely a natural 
gift, but that it was greatly strengthened by 
the singleness of purpose which was so marked 
a feature in your father's character." 

J. K. P. was much interested in the work 
of education, both in the schools of the Society 
of Friends and those of his native town of North 
Shields, with most of which he had been asso- 
ciated for very many years. He felt that the 



t98 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Christian cannot rightly exclude himself from 
•duties which involve the benefit of others, and 
he was ready to promote any movement for the 
public good. He served for many years on the 
Town Council, but could never see his way clear 
to accept the office of mayor, because he was 
unwilling, even nominally, as chief magistrate, 
•to sanction the tendering of an oath. 

He was a member of the Board of Guardians 
for over forty years, and for more than half this 
period his character for impartiality was shown 
by his being annually called upon to assume the 
post of Chairman over its deliberations. 

In his trade. as a tanner he bore a character 
'for high integrity, and the following sentences 
from one with whom he was closely brought into 
contact in his business dealings may bring out 
one or two points with regard to such matters. 
"Losing my own father at about the age of 
fourteen, our business relations brought me into 
'frequent contact with Mr. Procter, to whom we 
owe a debt of gratitude for counsel and advice 
which has been greatly to our advantage. It was 
my custom to consult your father whenever we 
thought of making any investment outside of 
business, and we have never known an instance 
iin which his judgment was at fault. In two 



JOHN BICHABDSON PBOCTER. 99^ 

or three instances the large dividends from steami 
sliipping were too much for ns to withstand, and, 
acting contrary to your, father's admonition to 
have nothing to do with shipping property, we 
invested, and came out much the poorer for our 
neglect of his advice. If I have taken too much, 
upon me in communicating with the Trade Journal, 
I can assure you it has arisen from my profound 
respect for the high character and the unflinching 
integrity of your late father, whose very presence 
acted as an inspiration to right doing." 

While we feel sure that the subject of this 
little sketch would not have assented to the 
estimate of his character here set forth, we believe 
that in thus offering it we desire only to show 
that it was his consistent endeavour conscien- 
tiously to serve God according to the strength 
and abilities afforded him, which enabled John 
Richardson Procter, a plain man with only an 
old-fashioned day-school education, to lead a life 
of usefulness to his fellow-men, and in many 
ways to set a high example to those who knew 
and loved him. 
John Purdt, 70 10 2 mo. 188a 

Grange, Co, Tyrone, 
Mary Ramsey, 77 30 11 mo. 188T 

Dublin, Widow of Alexander Ramsey. 



100 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Rachel Reed. 74 7 12 mo. 1887 

Croydon, An Elder. 
GuLiELMA Richardson, 69 1 2 mo. 1888 
Plymouth, Widow of Edward Richardson, 
late of Torquay. 
Henry C. Richardson, 

21 28 4 mo. 1888 
Overdone Grange, Northampton, Son of Henry 
and Emma Richardson. 
Jane Riselet, 61 4 4 mo. 1888 

Finedon, Northampton, 
Hannah M. Robinson, 66 15 7 mo. 1888 

York, Wife of Christopher Robinson. 
Jane Robinson, 75 1 1 mo. 1888 

Moate, Ireland, 
Henry Ellythorp Robson, 
Reigate, 88 25 1 mo. 1888 

" The path of the just is as the shining light 
which shineth more and more unto the perfect 
day." 

How often has this testimony been ex- 
emplified in the lives of the Lord's children 
from one generation to another ! The subject of 
this brief memoir was one in whom this was par- 
ticularly the case. 

Henry Ellythorp Robson was born at Stain- 
drop, Durham, on the 9th of First Month, 1802, 



HENRY ELLYTHORP ROBSON. 101 

and was the son of Stephen and Sarah Robson. 
The death of his father in early life deprived him 
of the advantage of his training, but he was care- 
fully instructed by his mother in the knowledge 
of the Scriptures. Taught to seek after the Lord, 
to listen to and obey the voice of His Spirit, he 
was enabled to find in Jesus a Saviour, bringing 
him reconciliation, forgiveness, and peace ; and 
becoming to him a very present teacher, guide, 
and counsellor. 

With a deep sense of his own unworthiness, 
and a humbling realisation of his natural fail- 
ings and weakness, were mingled a child-like 
clinging to the grace of Christ for help and 
strength, and a devout trust in God as his 
Heavenly Father, whose compassionate love and 
mercy are so perfectly revealed through His 
beloved Son. 

Whilst still a young man he settled in Liver- 
pool, commencing business as a cotton broker, in 
which he continued for many years. In 1830 he 
was united in marriage to Mary, daughter of 
Thomas and Hannah Binns. This union was 
severed by her death in 1855, after a protracted 
and sujBfering illness, borne with great patience 
and Christian resignation. There is an interesting 
memorial of her from his own pen in the Annual 



102 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Monitor for 1856. She was a woman possessed 
of superior mental powers combined with much 
sweetness of disposition and refinement of cha- 
racter, always exerting her influence helpfully to 
her husband, encouraging him to pursue the path 
of duty, and aiding him in his endeavours to 
bring up their children in harmony with the 
principles, of the religious Society to which they 
were both so warmly attached. They had three 
sons and six daughters, of whom one son and 
three daughters now survive. 

H. E. Robson felt a lively interest in the 
welfare of the Society in which he had enjoyed 
so many advantages, and took an active part for 
many years in the administration of its affairs in 
his own locality. At the early age of thirty he 
was appointed an Elder, a service for which he 
was well qualified by his sympathetic nature and 
tenderness of spirit, which drew him into near 
feeling with the exercise and service of the 
ministry. His discriminating judgment made 
his counsel and help often very valuable to those 
engaged in this work. For some years he was 
Clerk to his Monthly Meeting, to the Quarterly 
Meeting of Lancashire, and to the Meeting of 
Ministers and Elders as then constituted. 

He possessed a cheerful and genial nature. 



HENRY ELLTTHORP ROBSON. 103 

endearing him to both old and young ; his kindly 
and considerate disposition led him to cherish 
the virtues of others, and made him careful not 
to speak or act to their hurt 

In 1864, he married Elizabeth, widow of 
William J. Bryan, of New Orleans, who with 
her three daughters had some years before re- 
turned to England. Shortly afterwards he re- 
tired from business, and spent several years at 
his residence near Windermere, taking great de- 
light in rural life, and in the enjoyment of 
the beauties and grandeur of nature exhibited 
all around this charming home of his later 
years. 

As advancing age came on his natural buoy- 
ancy and physical energy flagged, and his spirits 
were frequently depressed ; but the loving sympa- 
thy and patient and ever-watchful care of his be- 
loved wife, tended greatly to soothe and cheer 
his declining days, until, at the ripe age of eighty- 
six, it pleased the Lord to gather him home to 
the spirits of just men made perfect, to share the 
service of the redeemed of all generations in the 
everlasting kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
He died the 25th of First month, 1888, at Love- 
lands, near Beigate, where he had resided the 
last few years of his life. 



104 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

John Stephenson BoBSON, 86 22 4 mo. 1888 
Saffron Walden. An Elder. 

J. S. Bobson was a lover of the Annual 
Monitor-; he perused its volumes over and over 
again, and it seems fitting to place some little 
record of his life on its pages. He was bovn on 
the Ist of Third month, 1802, and was the last 
survivor of the children of the late Thomas and 
Elizabeth Robson. 

Throughout his lengthened life he was 
possessed of a naturally sunshiny spirit, which, 
illuminated by the Sun of Eighteousness, reflected 
warmth and brightness to those around. His 
humility and child-like disposition would have 
led him to be one of the last to wish anything 
recorded about him except in so far as it would 
bring glory to Him who made him what he was. 
He was not a man of words so much as of loving, 
kindly, unselfish deeds ; and, from having early 
yielded his heart to the Lord, he was enabled to live 
in no common degree a life lifted above the jars, and 
worries, and failings, that too bften mar the vessels 
intended to be beautiful for Him. The following 
extracts from his diary speak for themselves. 

In early life we find this entry, after alluding 
to a religious visit paid to him : — 

^^ First month 23rdy 1821.— I do earnestly 



JOHK STEPHENSON BOBSON. 105 

desire on my own account that I may be pre- 
fierved from following the evil spirit, and look 
unto the Good. Spirit with a single eye, and I 
believe He will be pleased to enlighten me' ; for, 
as Christ said in His Sermon on the Mount, ' If 
thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full 
of light/" 

^^ First month 31«^, 1821. — I attended our 
week-day meeting, wherein I thought I was 
favoured to feel something of the overshadowing 
of Divine love upon me, and was encouraged to 
believe I was increasing in the knowledge of the 
truth ; and I felt a considerable degree of com- 
fort thereby." 

A visit from Nathan Hunt during this year 
■appears to have resulted in fuller dedication of 
heart, as he now speaks of " being ready to take 
up the cross, and follow Christ" 

Sixth month \Qthy 1821. — In writing of the 
death of a young companion, J. S. B. says : — 
" Oh ! how careful I ought to be ! I hope to 
become increasingly w^atchful, so as to be pre- 
pared for the awful day, come sooner or later, so 
that I may have nothing to fear, . . . and at the 
end of my days obtain a place in the Heavenly 
City, where I shall be at rest for ever and ever." 

" Seventh month 7th» — I often feel grieved 



106 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

that I sometimes give way to light conversation, 
which I believe is hurtful to me, and I think I 
will not do so again ; yet I am tempted again to 
talk unprofitably, and use many superfluous 
words, which are much better avoided. I feel 
sorry for it afterwards. And how foolish it is ; I 
never find it does me any good. But I intend 
from this time not to yield to hurtful temptations 
of any kind, but endeavour, through the influence 
of the Holy Spirit, to do His will, and be an 
example to those who are inclined to converse in 
a light, unprofitable manner/' 

After a break of nearly twenty years J. S. B, 
resumed his diary, and records the way in which 
he had been led since his marriage with Bachel 
Green, in 1827, a union which lasted over sixty 
years. He writes : — " May we, above all, during 
the residue of our days, devote all that we have 
and all that we are to the service of Him who 
shed His precious blood upon the cross." 

Under the same date he mentions the births 
of his children, and the death of one sweet little 
boy ; and concludes with the following words : — 
''May these, our dear children, each one for 
themselves, choose the Lord for their portion; 
this is what I desire for them above anything 
that this world can afford," 



JOHN STBPHENSON ROBSON. 107 

" Second month I4thf 1844. — I went to Stort- 
ford to see J, H, respecting valuing his stock, 
which I have agreed to commence doing on Third- 
day next. . . . May I be preserved during the 
few days I may be engaged in it from having 
my n^ind too much engrossed with the business, 
whilst I am endeavouring to do strict justice to 
my employer, which certainly requires close 
application and judgment ; but I believe nothing 
will be lost, and no inconvenience will arise in 
the business by having an eye continually to the 
Saviour, but quite the reverse 

" Second morUh 25th, 1844. — ^On looking back 
at my last week's employment, that of valuing 
stocks, which I have frequently been engaged 
in, I have a doubt as to the propriety of ever 
undertaking another, although it is a lucrative 
business ; but I feel it to be an overcharge of 
business, to the hindrance of a growth in the 
truth. Yet I do not think it necessarily follows 
that it should be so, but I feel myself a very 
poor weak creature." 

It is believed that this was the last time 
J. S. R. undertook a valuation. 

'< Third month 25th, 1844.— I often take a 
solitary walk, partly for exercise, but princi- 
pally to meditate on the goodness of the Lord, 



108 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

with earnest endeavour to feel after His Divine 
presence. This was the case about dusk this 
evening, and I thought I was favoured to feel a 
little renewal of strength, and felt encouraged to 
persevere. My heart was also raised in gratitude 
for the many comforts, temporal and spiritual, 
with which I am surrounded, and the thought 
was raised, " What shall I render unto Thee for 
all Thy benefits ? " 

" Fourth month 2bihf 1844. — This morning, 
about half an hour before going to meeting, I 
sat down to read, that I might find it more easy 
to have my mind abstracted from outward thoughts 
when met with my friends ; but in a few minutes 
after I began, one of the surveyors called upon 
me, ... so that I had to hurry to meeting, and my 
mind was so much taken up with the subject 
we had just been upon, 1 found it hard work to 
draw my attention from it ; indeed I was harassed 
with it most of the time ; but towards the con- 
clusion I was a little comforted with the recol- 
lection of the passage in James, ' Besist the devil, 
and he will flee from you ; draw nigh unto God, 
and He will draw nigh unto you.' I believe there 
may be often an advantage before going to meet- 
ing in particular, in endeavouring to get as much 
as possible out of the hurry of business.' 



JOHN STEPHENSON ROBSON. 109 

** Twdfth month eth, 1844.--Weiit to West 
Wickham " (a business journey ), " and my mind 
was almost entirely employed in seeking after the 
Saviour whilst travelling. I feel a degree of 
strength at such times, which is comforting to 
me ; it was so this day, and although I felt very 
poor, yet such a comfortable feeling overspread 
my mind that tears flowed from my eyes/' 

In Eighth month, 1843, J. S. B. was ap- 
pointed to the station of Elder, the duties of 
which he desired faithfully to fulfil. 

*•' Eleventh month 2l8t, — Had some serious 
conversation with a young man at Thaxted, 
whilst transacting business with him, on the 
importance of a religious life ; I hope not with- 
out profit to us both. This evening gave some 
advice to a young man who has been in the 
occasional habit of drinking to excess : it was 
given in the spirit of love, and was well received. 
The man confessed his error, and thanked me for 
my interest in his case." 

" Eleventh month 2nd, 1847. — In walking 

out this afternoon I fell in with , and had 

some conversation with him on religious subjects. 
May I be watchful that when conversing on 
subjects of highest importance I do no hurt to 
the cause of the dear Bedeemer." 

ii 



110 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

"Fourth month 19th, 1847.—On taMng a 
retired walk this evening alone, I felt an earnest 
desire to become more devoted to the cause of 
Truth. This is very often the case with me ; 
but I sometimes fear I make no progress, so many 
outward subjects crowd in upon me ; but I was 
a little comforted and encouraged this evening, 
and the desire was raised that my dearest Bachel 
and all our beloved children, with myself, might 
be of one heart and one mind in living so loose 
from the world, that we might be found in such 
a state as to be ever worshipping the Father in 
spirit and in truth, and to do our day's work in 
the day time." 

In the year 1850, J. S. B. travelled as 
companion to Thomas Amott, a minister from 
America, on the Continent of Europe, and after 
entering an account of this journey and recording 
the death of his father in 1852 his diary closes. 

In the year 1881, J. S. Kobson had a very 
painful illness, which lasted for several months, 
during which his example of patience and rest- 
fulness was very marked. When asked the 
secret of this, he replied, " Feeling there is a 
Rock underneath, and being kept and helped 
by a higher power than my own." 

His health again failed on the day of the 



JOHN STKPHENSON BOBSON. Ill 

Queen's Jubilee, in 1887, when for the last time 
he walked out. This ten months' illness was 
l»orne with exemplary patience and sweetness; 
he had had much enjoyment of life, but now 
that its evening had come he was content to rest. 
Though often suffering acute pain, there was no 
complaining ; " he knew it was all right,'' and in 
his sick-room there was an atmosphere of calm- 
ness and peace, and he was often favoured with 
the felt presence of his Saviour. During the 
early part of his illness he said to one of his 
daughters-in-law : '^ I think I can say I have 
nothing in my heart but love — love flowing to 
everyone. I don't know that I have an enemy 
in the world ; it is love to everybody. I do not 
love the ways of everyone, but I love them — I 
love their souls ;" and then, fearing lest it should 
seem like taking anything to himself, he added, 
" I am such a poor creature — nothing at all — 
nothing of my own whatever." 

Sixth month 2Qth. — On his wife remarking 
to him that she believed he was ready for the 
call to come up higher, he replied, ^' It will be a 
great favour if it is so ; I have not one thread to 
trust to in myself ; it is all of free mercy. Jesus 
died for sinners** 

On the 6th of Seventh month the tests in 



112 AKNXJAL HONITOB. 

'* Daily Light" were read to him, and he 
remarked on the sweetness of the verses. In 
reference to the one, " GU>d so loved the world,^ 
&c., he saidy '^ Yes, glorious thought ! God loves 
the world — Ood loves me" 

I7th, — He remarked, <' What a hlessed thing 
that there is forgiveness with Him ! When I 
look back on my past life, I see so many wrong 
things, so much that I have to regret.'' He then 
alluded to the blessing of having '' an Almighty 
Saviour ; " adding, " He has been my Rock and 
my Hiding-place. Christ is just the Saviour we 
need." 

The last two or three weeks of his life he 
slept much, but when awake was generally quite 
clear, and able to take an interest in what was 
going on, and was most loving to those around 
him. His welcome to his grandchildren will not 
be forgotten by them. His dear wife and various 
members of the family enjoyed the evening hours 
by his bedside, when many hymns and portions 
of Scripture were repeated to him, and sometimes 
by him, when able ; but he was too weak to con- 
verse much. The 23rd Psalm was a great 
favourite, and was one of the last portions of 
Scripture he was heard to quote, when he sub- 
stituted in the last verse the words **have 



JOHN BTEPHENSON ROBSON. 113 

foUowed^' for " shall follow me all the dajs of my 
life." 

Hftb. iii. 17, 18, was a passage he specially 
loyed, as having been so helpful to him in time* 
past; and the way in which he repeated with very 
trembling though most fervent voice, "Yet I 
will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the Qod of 
my salvation/' will long be remembered by those 
who were with him. 

Four days of restlessness and partial uncon- 
sciousness preceded his death ; but even then the 
pnrity and sweetness of his spirit were evinced ; 
such expressions as "Soon going Home/' and 
** This is dying, I believe, and that is going to 
Heaven/' were words full of comfort to those 
who loved him — ^proofs, if any were needed, that 
the Saviour was supporting His aged servant to 
the very end ; and when the last breath was 
drawn, his family could return thanks that he 
had been received into one of those mansions 
which Jesus has prepared for His redeemed ones. 

The following extracts from letters, tending 
to magnify the grace of Qod which made our 
friend what he was, may not be out of place here* 

One writes : — " I shall always feel it a pri- 
vilege to have known him, and though he rarely 
spoke to me directly as regarded my spiritual 



114 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

welfare, I felt his influence for good during tbe 
seven years I lived in Walden ; I saw his good 
works, and was led to glorify his Father in 
Heaven who had endowed him with so much that 
was good and beautiful." 

Another writes : — " Our long intimacy witJi 
thy dear father was greatly prized, for a more 
lovable and beautiful character we never met ; 
and I never came in contact with him but I felt 
he had done me good ; and in him I was often 
reminded of our Saviour's words,- ^Behold an 
Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile.* " 

J. J. Neave writes of him :— " One he was, 
above all others in my mind, whose life has 
seemed unspotted and upright, and whose ex- 
ample was not marred by the ordinary weaknesses 
of humanity ; and yet if he could speak to us, 
he would be the first to acknowledge his failings, 
and to give all the praise to God, by whose grace 
he was what he was." 

From a Niece : — " I did so like the texts on 
the card," * Pure in heart' so exactly describes what 
our loved one was. Few if any have left behind 
them such sweet memories in all hearts. To me 
he has been the embodiment of love and kind- 
ness and unselfishness, and I cannot recall ever 
having heard him utter an impatient word, or 






SARAH ROWNTREE. 115 

speak unkindly of anyone. I do thank God for 
having given us such an uncle, and long that we 
may grow more and more like him as he was like 
Christ. The recollection of his dear, sweet, holy 
£ace, as I saw him last spring, will, I think, 
never be obliterated." 

One of his nurses writes of him : — " I feel 
to-night I have lost a friend, one from whom I 
benefited much when I had the privilege of 
nursing him ; a privilege for which I have praised 
God with thankful heart. The perfect trust, bo 
sweet, I shall never forget : but the loss of this 
dear one is his eternal gain. The life is now be- 
gun — no sin, no sorrow, no suffering ; but safe in 
his Father's Home, the Home prepared by our 
Saviour's love." 

Sarah Kowntree, 81 2 1 mo. 1888 

York, A Minister. Widow of Joseph Rowntree. 

The Annual Monitor for 1860 contained a 
biographical notice of Joseph Rowntree, whose 
death had occurred in the autumn of 1859. After 
an interval of twenty-eight years, we have to 
record the decease of his widow, Sarah Rowntree. 
She was the youngest child of Isaac and Hannah 
Stephenson, having been bom in 1807, at Stock- 
ton-upon-Tees, whence her parents removed to 
Manchester, with their family, whilst she was 



116 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

still a girl. Saiah Stephenson was suirounded 
from childhood with the holy influences of a 
Christian home. Her father was a minister 
devoted to the service of his Master. The Scrip** 
tores were read aloud in his family with a fre- 
quency then uncommon, and the whole tone and 
character of his household were determined by 
the supreme place assigned to the things pertain- 
ing to salvation through Jesus Christ. Isaac 
Stephenson was often from home on religious 
service. He visited in gospel love the Friends 
in the United States, and whilst on a similar 
errand in the north of Ireland death overtook hink 
very suddenly in 1828. His religious engage- 
ments and those of his sister Elizabeth Bobson, 
kept the interest of the young people much 
directed towards this kind of Christian service. 

In a memorandum made in 1883 Sarah 
Rowntree refers to her childhood, and to the early 
work of divine grace in her heart, in the following 
terms : — 

" Whilst at home alone this evening I have 
been taking a review of my past life from early 
childhood, and have been afresh humbled in the 
sense of the Lord's goodness to me, — ^how I was 
blessed with the training of loving Chnstian 
parents, ever on the watch by word and example 



BARAH BOWNTRBE. 117 

to dr^w and guide to that which, is pure and holy 
and how the Holy Spirit did influence my heart 
when very young, leading to prayer, and giving 
the feeling of happiness when so made sensible 

of my Saviour's nearness to me. As says, 

* I have no recollection of a period of my first 
awakening," yet has the Lord, I believe, gently 
led me along, making me to know my own weak- 
ness and sinfulness and the need of a Saviour, and 
deepening my love to Him. My feeling now is 
that I have indeed been an unprofitable servant, 
and I can only cling to that mercy which first 
drew me to Christ my Saviour." 

That close walk with God, thus early begun 
and continued from year to year throughout the 
whole course of our dear friend's life, was the 
source of her spiritual strength. In it she found 
the right quaHfication for the discharge of earthly 
•duties, and was again and again anointed for 
public and private ministries in the household of 
£aith. 

In connection with this feature of her life 
and character, it may be conveuient to anticipate 
the chronological order of the narrative, and here 
to group together extracts from Sarah Bowntree's 
memoranda indicating her spiritual aspirations in 
oodddle and advanced life. It will be seen how 



118 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

strikingly her experience realised the desire of the 
poet: — 

" I could wish my days to be 
Bound each to each by natural piety." 

" First month 23rd, 1 854.— My birthday, forty- 
seven years of age. My soul is humbled within 
me in the consideration of the Lord's unfailing 
mercy to me all my life-way, having brought me 
thus far on my earthly pilgrimage, and supplied 
me with all things needful for the body, and 
given many spiritual blessings, so that I may say. 
He has crowned me with loving-kindness and- 
tender mercy ; what return have I made for all 
these, so great blessings? I feel that I have- 
cause for deep humiliation and contrition, and 
to seek for pardon through Jesus Christ ; for 
though my course may seem to my fellow- 
creatures to have been a pretty orderly and con- 
sistent one, yet the Lord only knows how often 
I have grieved His Holy Spirit, how cold and 
dead my heart has often been, and how indisposed 
to maintain steadily the spiritual life, and how 
unwilling to lay hold of offered strength to con- 
fess Christ before men. Oh, that this day my 
covenant may be renewed with the Lord, and by 
His holy help may I be strengthened to keep it> 



SABAH BOWNTREE. 119 

unworthy as I am of His renewed mercj ; but I 
am poor and helpless of myself ! " 

" Twelfth month llth, 1875.— I long for a life 
wholly consecrated to the service of my God, and 
for such a very close walking with Him, drinking 
in of the Spirit, and being guided by His eye, 
that when the end comes, it may be as a going 
home ; coming to the end of a path which, though 
sometimes thorny, has been marked by rich and 
numberless blessings. To the Lord be all praise 
for His goodness to me down to the present hour, 
poor and unworthy as I am." 

" Tmlfth month ZOth, 1878.— Another year has 
nearly reached its close ; in looking back over it, 
there have been many marked incidents in our 
experience, very varied in character, ... in all 
how good the Lord has been, fulfilling so much 
beyond my deserts, the promise given me on my 
marriage day, ' as thy days so shall thy strength 
be.' And now if permitted to enter on another 
year, with all the unknown future of joy or 
sorrow, service or suffering, I desire to commit 
myself wholly into the Lord's keeping, asking 
that day by day, yea, hour by hour, I may be 
kept close to Him, led along, strengthened, guided 
by Him, for whatever duty may fall to my lot. 
Gracious Father, Thou hast been very good to me 



120 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

and mine ; continue to us Thy tender watchful 
care, I do pray, and do grant that all the experi- 
ence of life, may in Thy great mercy, bring into 
a closer walk with Thee, and larger realisation 
of Thy wondrous love and power." 

In 1832 Sarah Stephenson became the wife of 
Joseph Rowntree. For the thirteen years suc- 
ceeding her marriage, during which her five chil- 
dren were born, she was the mistress of a large 
business household. These were years crowded 
with active engagements. Besides her own 
maternal and domestic duties, she shared her 
husband's business anxieties, and upheld his 
hands in the performance of every private and 
public duty. She exerted a strong though gentle 
influence for good over her husband's, business 
assistants and her own domestic servants. She 
was a regular attender, so far as health permitted, 
of meetings for divine worship and for church 
affairs. She found time for visiting the poor 
and relieving their wants, as well as for serving 
on the managing committees of schools, and the 
York Penitentiary. 

In middle life Sarah Rowntree began to 
speak as a minister. Her addresses were usually 
short, and were marked by much feeling and 
exercise of spirit on behalf of those to whom she 



SARAH ROWNTRfiE. ISl 

spoke. She engaged in vocal prayer perhaps as 
frequently as in preaching, and was often favoured 
to have near access to the throne of grace. In 
1854-5, under appointment of York Quarterly 
Meeting, Sarah Kowntree took part in a religious 
visit to the Friends in the West Riding, being 
associated with Thomas Pumphrey, Edward Smith, 
Isabel Casson and others. Her gift in the minis- 
try enlarged in connection with the religious 
labours into which this mission introduced her, 
and it was shortly afterwards recognised by her 
friends. In relation to this event she remarks: — 
"Eleventh month 2Sth, 1856.— At our last 
Monthly Meeting, Friends gave their sanction in 
the accustomed way to my speaking as a minister. 
Very serious and humiliating have been my 
feelings, and earnest my petitions that the Lord 
will in great mercy watch over and keep me from 
dishonouring His precious cause in word or deed; 
and when in the feeling of utter helplessness I 
have sought to cast myself entirely on His 
guidance and protection, I think I have felt my 
spirit quieted, and my faith a little renewed by 
the revival of some most satisfying promises. I 
now feel very poor and low, and when sitting in 
our meeting it has seemed as if I should never 
open my mouth there again : but whether I do 

M 



122 AITNUAL MONITOR. 

or not, may I be kept in deep humility waiting 
upon the Lord, and then all must be right." 

About the same time as the date of the last 
memorandum, Sarah Rowntree became much 
interested for the spiritual welfare of some of the 
young women attending York Meeting, and under 
a feeling of Christian love and duty, she invited 
them to a Bible class held at her house. These 
occasions were felt to be much blessed to some 
of those who attended. It is observable from 
S. R.'s memoranda, with what prayerful exercise 
of spirit she entered on this engagement. 

*^ Twelfth month %th, 1856.— A few weeks 
ago, whilst sitting in meeting, my feelings were 
very much interested on behalf of a considerable 
number of young persons who attend our meet- 
ings, some of them members of our Society and 
some of them not members. I felt that personally 
I knew little of them, and, though they were 
connected with no other religious society, I feared 
that we as a body were not doing what we might 
for their help, and it then presented to me 
whether I could sometimes invite a few of them 
to our house in an evening, and either by a little 
Scripture reading and research together, or by 
serious reading of any other kind, could engage 
their attention and interest, and be of some little 



SARAH ROWKTREE. 12S 

service to them in drawing them on to serious 
things. Since then the subject has not failed 
very often to have my serious attention, but 
many discouragements have presented. I have 
feared that I could not make such occasions useful 
or interesting, because I know that naturally I 
have very little power in that direction. Again 
and again I have endeavoured to pray that I may 
be rightly directed in it, and as I have not felt 
that I could put the thing aside, after repeatedly 
conversing with my dear husband about it, we 
thought it best to make the attempt in a very 
simple way. ... In my own unaided strength 
I feel that this effort must be unproductive of 
any good ; but whilst I make diligent use of the 
many appliances by which I am surrounded (and 
which are not[given for mere selfish gratification),, 
may I in deep humility and earnest prayer be 
seeking for and depending upon the help which 
comes from God only." 

** Second month 2Zrd, 1857. — In looking at 
the last memorandum, I feel bound to acknow- 
ledge the satisfaction that has attended the 

attempt there contemplated I think 

I may say that the imdertaking has not been 
more difiicult than I anticipated. Each time 
we have met I have deeply felt my own weak* 



124 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

ness and want of ability to make the occasion 
really useful, and I think I have had the most 
satisfaction when, in addition to the proper pre- 
paration of subjects, I have sought the most 
earnestly for Divine assistance, and cast myself 
the most entirely upon the Lord in simple 
faith, depending upon His help. I do believe 
that, upon some of these occasions more espe- 
cially, a precious sense of Divine overshadowing 
has been known, and ability to speak a word that 
I trust might be in season; for which unmerited 
mercy and condescension I desire to record my 
humble gratitude.'' 

On the twenty-seventh anniversary of her 
marriage Sarah Bowntree recorded her sense of 
the abounding cause she saw for gratitude in the 
blessing it had been to her 'Ho have such a 
partner through so large A portion of life, 
strengthening me in whatever is good, and 
contributing to my happiness every way. For 
such a union may I cherish the deepest gratitude 
to my Heavenly Father. May I strive more 
earnestly to discharge aright the duties of wife 
and mother, wrestle more in prayer for the 
Lord's help to perform these and other duties.*' 

Six months after this entry, her husband's 
death dissolved the tender bond here referred to. 



SARAH ROWKTREE. 125 

At the marriage of Joseph and Sarah Bowntree, 
Joseph John Gumey had preached from tli& 
passage in the Epistle to the Ephesians, wher& 
the Apostle makes the earthly relationship of 
hushand and wife a type of the relationship 
between Christ and the Church. This lofty ideal 
of Christian marriage was illustrated with singular 
beauty in the married life of our friends. Their 
views of the object and aim of life were identical 
They were united in entire agreement of religious 
, faith and practice. All interests, joys, sorrows 
and duties, were shared by both. With differing 
mental constitutions, each contributed help to the- 
other and received it in return. Sarah Kowntre© 
would post her husband's ledgers, or consider with 
him the details of business management, as 
naturally as in later years she would share his 
considerations of large municipal affairs, or bring 
her judgment to bear along with his on the diver- 
sified concerns of the Society of Friends, or the 
multitudinous details of the administration of its 
institutions. 

The same wide range of sympathy distin- 
guished her relationship as a mother. When her 
children were very young, she took lessons from 
a drawing master, to help her better to amuse and 
interest them. As they grew to manhood and 



i 



126 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

womanhood their widening interests were made 
iter own. When sorrows fell upon them, or her 
•children-in-law, they were her sorrows, and her 
sympathy found expression in words and ways so 
wise and tender, that it was often felt the prophet 
had employed the most powerful of earthly 
similes ^rhen he promised to Jerusalem in the 
name of the Almighty: — "As one whom his 
mother comforteth, so will I comfort you." 

At the time of her husband's death, Sarah 
Rowntree felt the bereavement to be so over- 
whelming that she says she feared she might 
lose her reason. It was, however, teaching to 
observe how her faith in the love and compassion 
•of her Saviour sustained her. A few weeks after 
this event her memorandum book contains this 
•entry : — 

" First month 27th, I860.— For several days 
past I have wished to record here the grateful 
•«ense which I have had of the goodness of the 
Lord to me, in sustaining me under my great and 
sore affliction, sometimes by giving me to feel His 
love and mercy to be very near; sometimes by the 
waves of sorrow seeming to be held back, so that 
they could not sweep over me ; and sometimes by 
my heart seeming so filled and satisfied with the 
«ense of the unutterable blessedness upon which 



BABAH R0W17TREE. 127 

my beloved one has entered. How wonderful 
and how unmerited is the goodness of Qod to His 
poor creatures. May I be helped more implicitly 
to trust in Him, more entirely to love Him, and 
more faithfully to serve Him. I had thought of 
the 23rd of this month, my birthday, as one that 
would be very sorrowful to me, bringing so vividly 
to my mind my altered circumstances, and I 
wished that I might not remember it when the 
day came. The preceding evening I felt able 
after the Scripture reading, vocally to ask for a 
continuance of the Lord's mercy to us ; and going 
to bed with the love of Qod in my heart, I woke 
in the morning with one of the Psalmist's sweet 
petitions on my lips, and a sweet feeling of peace 
and comfort. I did not remember for a consider- 
able time that it was my birthday, and when I 
did, it was not accompanied by any distress, but, 
I think, with more ability for enjoying the things 
around me than I have had since my great loss. 
What shall I render to the Lord for all His 
benefits 7" 

For a time, Sarah Rowntree's health gave 
way under the shock she had sustained. But 
gradually it was much restored and she entered 
on the last division of her life, little supposing 
it would be prolonged for twenty-eight years, 



128 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

with strong desires to occupy all the talent» 
committed to her, according to her Lord's will. 
The entries in her private memorandum book 
became more frequent, and show that whilst her 
friends may have supposed she was living a 
quiet and uneventful life, it was in reality 
chequered by many sorrows and perplexities. 
All these were committed in confiding prayer 
to her God and Saviour. It is observable how 
very frequent are her records of prayer on be« 
half of her children, grandchildren, and near 
friends and relatives. To the extent of her 
strength, she attended such meetings of Friends 
as she was able, and was wont to maintain a 
very lively exercise of spirit, that gatherings, 
such as Women's Preparative, Monthly, or 
Quarterly Meetings, or conferences of Ministers 
and Elders, should be held " in the life," and 
"to the honour of Truth." She often took a 
vocal part in these meetings, sometimes in prayer^ 
sometimes in exhortation, generally seeking to 
stir up her friends to greater consecration of life- 
to Christ. In letters received at the time of her 
decease, the writers observe : — 

"I cannot easily forget the interest with 
which I always looked forward to the possibility 
of hearing S. R's voice in our own Quarterly 



SARAH BOWNTBEE. 129 

Meetings, and the peaceful chastened tone that 
ever seemed to accompany her words." 

" The friends in her own meeting must feel 
that she has left the memory of a beautiful 
example, in the words she often spoke to them, 
as well as in the brightness of the long life passed 
amo&g them/' 

As long as her health permitted, it was a 
great pleasure to Sarah Bowntree to entertain 
large companies at her house, on the occurrence 
of Quarterly Meetings. At these times it was 
instructive to observe how anxious she was that 
her friends should not only share her hospitality 
as to outward things, but that those spiritual 
inteBests which are the professed objects of 
meetings for discipline should not be forgotten 
in the serving of tables. 

Under date 1878, First month 27th, Sarah 
Rowntree writes : — " In the near approach of 
another Quarterly Meeting, I have longed that 
the Lord may own and bless us in the large meet- 
ings and in the social gatherings. Be pleased, O 
my Father in Heaven, to help me to watch and 
pray that I may not be so absorbed by domestic 
arrangements as to obstruct any little service 
Thou may have for me, or from receiving any in- 
struction I might receive." 



130 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Again in 1886 : — " After a Quarterly Meet- 
ing is over, with all the labour of one kind oc 
other that is involved, I am sometimes ready to 
ask myself, what, as regards my own house, does 
it all amount to ? Have the higher interests of 
our guests, the religious and the intellectual, had 
their place, as well as attention to the ordinary 
hospitalities of life ? In the social circle has Gk>d 
been glorified, and all avoided that would dis- 
honour Him ? In the retrospect there may be 
much to humble, but still I do esteem these times 
of social and religious intercourse very highly, — 
in different ways they may be very helpful to us 
if improved as they ought." 

As years passed and her children were settled 
in homes of their own, a time came when Sarah 
Kowntree had none of her own family to reside 
with her. She was wont to say, that when a 
young woman she had dreaded the loneliness of 
old age, but now that it had really come, there 
was no sense of desolation in her allotment, and, 
until failing health made it necessary, she ob- 
jected to have a companion to reside with her. 
The company of her grand-children was greatly 
enjoyed by her. Separated from them by so wide 
a difference of age, she retained that freshness of 
spirit which enahled her readily to remember and 



SARAH BOWNTRBE. 131 

heartily to enter into the individual concerns of 
each. She was refreshed by the fun of childhood, 
and in many ways rejoiced to increase the hap- 
piness of her children's children. The secret of 
this cheerfulness in old age is seen in a memoran- 
dum like the following : — 

" First month 22nd, 1876.— My heart has 
seemed full this evening of the love of Christ my 
Saviour ; it does seem wonderful that one so 
utterly poor and unworthy should have such a 
sweet sense of nearness and access in prayer : — 
some may think my evenings alone are lonely, 
but oh ! far from it, when the Saviour condescends 
to draw near. What more can I ask or desire ? 
Oh to be deeply humbled under the feeling of 
undeserved mercy." 

In the latter years of her life, Sarah Rown- 
tree was often confined to her house for many 
•weeks and months. When well enough to receive 
the visits of her friends, she greatly enjoyed their 
society, and many were those who sought her 
company for sympathy in trouble, counsel as to 
earthly business or religious service, or for Chris- 
tian fellowship. So numerous were callers, that 
it was sometimes difficult to find opportunities 
for all who wished to see her. It was striking 
liow ahnost to the last she was wont to say, ** I 



132 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

thought it very kind of to call upon me."" 

The combination in her character of the truest 
sympathy-— often Ending outward expression in 
flowing tears — with strength of judgment and 
spiritual faculties " exercised by reason of use/^ 
made her so helpful to her friends. One of these 
writes : — 

" She was such a true mother — ^in all loring- 
ness and true sympathy, and possessed of the 
faculty of being able to place herself in the situa- 
tion of another so completely, and to enter into 
the joys and sorrows of life as if they were her 



own." 



Another : — 

**I think no one could visit her without 
going away better, and feeling the contrast between 
the atmosphere in which she lived and that of the 
world." 

We add a few sentences from another letter 
received after her death : — 

"At times when all ordinary evidence seemed 
to fail, and one struggled hard for some proof 
positive that the spiritual life could really con- 
quer the life of the world within and around, the- 
thought of her has come like an anchorage from 
which there was no giving way. Her wonderful 
judgment, which seemed to give back to you 



SARAH ROWNTRISB. 133 

more on almost every subject than one could say 
to her even after a course of study, her clear 
discernment, and the evenness of her tender 
sympathy and love, must, under any circum- 
stances, have won the admiration of all who 
knew her ; but above all she bore so uncon- 
sciously an ever-living witness to the higher life 
of the soul, whilst making all the time the quiet 
every-day life so warm and pleasant to all around 
her." 

After a day of many callers, in the spring of 
1879. Sarah Eowntree wrote : — 

" This day there have been many callers, and 
near its close I have been pondering upon the 
effect of such association. It is very pleasant 
and interesting so to meet with those you love 
and for whom you feel a warm interest ; it seema 
to draw closer the bond of Christian fellowships 
and keep the affections warm : but I also feel 
that there should be the endeavour to watch 
for oppo'rtunities to make such visits helpful 
to the highest interests of each. We seem to 
want more simplicity in speaking on religious 
subjects, by which our love to the Saviour might 
often be quickened. Lord, wilt Thou help me to 
live so near to Thee that I may be quick to per- 
ceive when I could say a word for Thee ? " 

N 



134 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Sarah. Bowntree made the last entry in her 
memorandum book Ninth month 8th, 1887, 
remarking, "Weakness and debility continue, 
though I get about the house. General decline 
of power is very evident, and very solemn thoughts 
3xe connected with it. Oh, I want to be con- 
stantly as in the presence of my Saviour, and 
through His mercy fitted for the last great 
change." 

About six weeks after this entry our dear 
friend became more decidedly unwell. She 
however retained the brightness of her mental 
and spiritual faculties almost to the time of her 
death. She was in her sitting-room on the last 
day of 1887, and in the evening took a most 
affectionate farewell of her sons. In the course 
of the day she had been speaking very gratefully 
of the abounding kindness of her attendants, as 
well as of the love of absent friends and relatives 
who had sent flowers, cards, and other tokens of 
Section. Above all she testified to the sense 
of the love of Christ filling her heart, and staying 
lier spirit amidst increasing bodily weakness. 
The next day — the new year's Sabbath morning 
— she was too ill to rise, and gradually sank into 
unconsciousness, from which there was no earthly 
Awaking. ''In green pastures," "beside the 



CHARLES A. SCOTT. 135 

still waters," were almost her last words before 
she entered the valley of the shadow of death, 
fearing no evil^ for the Saviour she had so long 
loved was with her. 
William Rowntrbb, 44 24 5 mo. 1888 

Sheffield. 
Arthur Rtlby, 60 26 1 mo. 1888 

Liverpool, 
Edith Sadler, 4 26 10 mo. 1887 

Crosby, Maryport, Daughter of John and 

Hannah Sadler. 
Lucy Salter, 55 22 10 mo. 1887 

Scarhorovgh, Widow of William Henry Salter, 

late of Westleton, SuflFolk. 
Catherine Sargent, 75 20 9 mo. 1888 

Fritchley, Widow of John Sargent, 
Sarah Satterthwaite, 97 18 11 mo. 1887 

Manchester, Widow of William Satterthwaite. 
John Scarr, Limerick 67 18 11 mo. 1887 
Charles A. Scott, 47 13 7 mo. 1887 

Edghaston, Birmingham. (This name appeared 

in the volume for last year.) 

Charles Appleby Scott was the yoimgest son 
of John and Elizabeth Scott, of Birmingham. As 
a child he was of an impulsive temperament, 
but warm-hearted and loving, with much in his 
nature to strive against and overcome. He was 



J. 



136 ANNUAL HONHOB. 

much, influenced in his youth by one of the 
Biimingham Grammar School masters, and his 
religious impressions first showed themselves 
about this time. As he grew up, he took a warm 
interest in First-day school work and mission 
meetings connected with the Severn Street 
Schools, and was especially devoted to the Cross 
Street Mission, where he worked assiduously with 
the late Edwin Laundy, whose wise counsel was 
often helpful to him, both in business and in 
religious concerns. 

He was married in 1873 to Jane, youngest 
daughter of George and Jane Harrison, of Book- 
ing, Essex. Later in the same year he became 
alarmingly ill, and the effects of this remained with 
him ever after; but it was during this illness that 
his soul was brought nearer to his Saviour, and 
his many trials and outward afflictions seemed 
but to strengthen his faith. 

It was very beautiful to watch his growth in 
grace, and the deepening of his religious feelings. 
Possessed of a warm and loving nature, he was 
ever on the watch to do a kind action for those 
about him, and it was seldom that he let an oppor- 
tunity slip without speaking for the Master to 
those who came under his influence. 

His unflagging interest in the various meet- 



CHABLES A. SCOTT. 137 

ings, both within and outaide of the Society of 
Friends, was kept up pretty much to the time o^ 
his removal; often in spite of much weakness an d 
weariness ; but on his return from a meeting he 
would often say, " What a blessed meeting we 
have had," and that he felt very much refreshed 
in spirit. 

He was in the constant habit of retiring to 
his room for the purpose of prayer three times a 
day, and in this lay the secret of his happiness 
and deepening love to God. 

As a business-man he was remarkable for his 
integrity and uprightness of character, often incur- 
ring loss himself rather than do that which 
seemed to him to be inconsistent with his Chris- 
tian profession. He was not ashamed of his Lord 
and Master, and would often openly rebuke 
worldliness or selfishness in his business friends. 

His last illness, which was long and tedious, 
was borne with great patience, and through it all 
it was his endeavour to advance the kingdom of 
God. During the last few weeks he was full of 
peace and joy and deep thankfulness, and only 
seemed waiting in happy expectation for his 
entrance into his heavenly home. When asked 
if he had any message for the members of the 
Cross Street Meeting, he said, "Tell them I 



138 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

have been washed in the blood of Christ, though 
unworthy, unworthy" 

He peacefully passed away on the 13th of 
Seventh month, 1887, aged 47 years. 
Eliza Sessions, 75 15 8 mo. 1888 

Gloucester, A Minister. Wife of Jesse Sessions. 

Eliza Sessions {nSe Shipley), was bom at 
Shaftesbury, Eighth month 18th, 1813. Of her 
childhood there are no records extant. All her 
contemporaries who could have given any informa- 
tion are dead. There is every reason to believe, 
however, that God early touched her heart, for 
she grew up to young womanhood with His fear 
before Her eyes and His love in her soul. Her 
husband, to whom she was married when she was 
but twenty-two, never remembers her otherwise 
than as a consistent servant of Christ. 

As the years of wedded life passed by she 
had many trials to contend with in regard to out- 
ward circumstances. The cares of a large family 
of children, who had to be brought up on com- 
paratively slender means, also pressed heavily 
upon her. To her husband, in those days of 
anxiety, her unwavering faith was a continual 
comfort and support Her older children well 
remember the solemnity that overshadowed the 
room, when they were sometimes admitted into 



ELIZA SESSIONS. 139 

their parents' bed-chamber during their private 
morning devotions. They learned there whence 
came her power both to work and to endare. 
It was donbtless due to this habit of communioa 
with Qod, thus daily cultivated, that she found 
strength and willingness to stand loyally by all 
consequences, when, in the earliest days of the 
Temperance reformation, J. SoBsions became a 
total abstainer, and relinquished a brewer's agency 
which had considerably increased the sorely- 
needed income. 

With a mind so sincerely set upon following 
the guidance of the Holy Spirit, it is no matter 
for surprise that she received in due time a call 
from the Lord to preach the Gospel. Yielding 
to the call, and following her Guide closely, she 
experienced an enlargement and deepening of 
her gift, and was recorded a Minister by Gloucester 
and Nailsworth Monthly Meeting about the year 
1852. 

The doctrine ehe preached was always Scrip- 
tural, and she never had unity with any but the 
'' healthful teaching " of the old truths held by 
the Society of Friends. Whatever her immediate 
topic, it was sure to be based on the great facts of 
the New Testament. To her Jesus was emphati- 
cally the Word made flesh and dwelling among 



140 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

men. She neither knew nor preached any other 
atonement for sin than Christ dying on the cross 
in the sinner's stead. She was clear and strong 
in her knowledge that the Son of Qod had risen 
again from the dead, and had shed forth the Holy 
Ghost to convince the sinner of sin and of judg- 
ment to come, and to dwell in the believer's 
heart as a refiner, sanctifier, and overcoming 
power. 

But not only was she an acceptable and 
successful preacher. , She was a true counsellor in 
private to many an anxious soul. Her sympa- 
thetic disposition and her practical common sense 
made her very welcome in those " family visits," 
which were more frequent formerly than they now 
are, and which she never omitted to pay when 
travelling with a certificate for the holding of 
meetings with Friends and with the public. She 
had a gift of the discernment of spirits, and was 
often greatly helped in speaking to the spiritual 
condition of others, both within and without her 
own family circle. Not unfrequently persons 
would come to her after the close of a meetings 
to confess their troubles and secret faults, which 
they supposed she must have known, so clearly 
had she opened their state before their own in* 
ward eyes. Especially was she blessed during 



ELIZA SESSIONS. 141 

her maturity in her wise encouragement of those 
who were young in the ministry. 

She lived to see three of her children, and the 
widow of one of her sons, recorded as ministers. 
Sometimes, when holiday seasons brought them 
together in the old home, there have been the 
father (an Elder), and the mother, daughter and 
two sons, sitting side by side in the ministers^ 
gallery of Gloucester Meeting-house. To the 
elder of these sons she wrote the following letter, 
which we insert in the hope that it may prove 
useful to some who are now, as he was then, in 
the expectation of being more widely engaged in 
his Master's service, yet trembling about taking 
the next forward step : — 

" My precious Child, — I can never tell thee 
how much is in my heart of thankful rejoicing 
that a second time thou hast obeyed the voice of 
thy Lord, and spoken forth words of praise and 
love. Thy example, I cannot but believe, will 
have more effect upon the meeting than many 
words and warnings from us older ones. May'st 
thou ever cherish a simple, child-like spirit, a 
willingness to speak when it feels right, without 
that turning and tossing of the subject up and 
down in thy own mind, looking at it this way 
and that, and questioning whether it is the right 



142 AKNUAL MONITOR. 

thing, until the proper time passes, and the offering 
itself loses yery much of its brightness and purity. 
The fear of myself and of man has often caused 
me to do this, until the life (if there was any) 
has very much departed, and when I have risen 
it has been under much difficulty through my 
own want of simplicity. May my dear son never 
split upon this rock. That thou wilt have many 
discouragements and much humiliation I cannot 
doubt, but I believe this is for our safety^ to 
keep us humble when Grod gives us a gift. . . . 
Another thing will perhaps be thy experience — it 
was largely mine — for years I think I spoke, and 
(except once or twice a Friend in the ministry 
might have encouraged me) out of my own family 
no one ever gave me a kind word, or said ought, 
either *Be silent,' or 'Speak.' Yet I believe 
now I had the unity and sympathy of my friends; 
but there is seldom much readiness to extend the 
right hand of fellowship. But these things need 
not trouble us ; the enemies of one's own soul^ 
which are both lively and strong, cause me to 
fear day by day ; and on looking inward I am 
often led to query whether it is possible for one 
so faulty and inconsistent to ever rightly labour 
for the Holy One. 

"Thy loving Mother.'* 



ELIZA SESSIONS. 143 

£j-and-by the Lord wanted her to travel 
through some parts of England, visiting Friends' 
meetings and families, and holding meetings with 
the general public. She was " not 4isobedient to 
the heavenly vision/* and her friends had unity 
with her feeling of duty. Her first visit in the 
love of the Gtospel was to the Quarterly Meeting 
of Warwick, Stafford and Leicester, in the year 
1858, accompanied by her husband. In the chief 
towns the meetings were all largely attended. 
One of the most interesting was held in a circus 
at Birmingham. About 2,000 persons were pre- 
sent of the lowest and most degraded portion of 
the population. Sweeps, with their black faces^ 
were there ; soldiers, shoe-blacks, and a motley 
variety besides. Notwithstanding the rough ele- 
ments of which it was composed, the meeting was 
orderly and solemn. 

The companies of Friends in the country 
districts were found to be very small, and Eliza 
Sessions often felt much discouraged for their 
future. There seemed to be so little spiritual life 
or ingathering power among them, that only a 
prospect of extinction could lie before them. In 
one small meeting, afterwards closed. Friends made 
no proper arrangements to receive her, nor gave 
public invitation to any to meet her. In othej 



144 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

places she had to turn away from our own build- 
ings, aad avail herself of the proffered chapels 
and religious organisation of Wesleyan and other 
bodies of Christians in order to reach the masses, 
towards whom her heart was drawn forth. In 
some of the smaller meetings, however, there 
seemed to be a seed left among Friends which 
might have borne abundant fruit had her earnest 
counsels and exhortations been followed. 

The following year she visited Dublin Yearly 
Meeting, attending the regular sittings, speaking 
in the meetings to which the public were spe- 
cially invited, and holding more private ones at 
the residences of Friends, notably a large and 
profitable one at the late Samuel Bewley's. One 
little incident was related of her years afterwards 
by an English Friend who was also present, and 
which struck him as giving clear evidence of 
the divine source of her ministry, and of the sin- 
gleness with which she obeyed the intimations of 
the Holy Spirit. During one of the meetings, 
while delivering an earnest address, all the matter 
of her discourse suddenly went away from her 
mind. " Under these circumstance," said our 
informant, " probably most preachers would have 
attempted to fill up the blank with words and 
ideas forced together for the occasion ; but Eliza 



ICIJZA SESSIONS. 145 

Sessions quietly sat down, and waited for the 
restoration of the lost message,^ which occurred 
afterwards^ after a short and silent pleading with 
the Lord.'* We haye been told that some were 
present \p ho either doubted or depreciated the direct 
guidance of the Spirit in such matters, and who 
were a good deal struck by the circumstance. 
She always considered it was permited for their 
benefit, though it was an extreme trial to herself. 

In 1860, she received a certificate for travel- 
ling in Yorkshire, where also she diligently 
visited the families of Friends, as well as larger 
and smaller meetings. 

Eliza Sessions' life was about this time 
sharply divided into two portions by a long and 
trying illness, lasting for about two years. She 
endured deep and fiery baptisms of soul, but 
came forth a brighter Christian than ever, with 
broader charity, more tender sympathy, less 
of sectarian narrowness, and more assurance of 
knowledge, faith and hope. 

Shortly after her recovery her Monthly 
Meeting again granted her a certificate for public 
service. Her mission this time was to other de- 
nominations of Christians than Friends through- 
out the county of Gloucester. In the visits then 
paid by her the power and unction of her min- 

o 



146 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

istiy were sucli that many are still liying in the 
Forest of Dean, and on the Cotswold Hills, who 
speak of the blessing she brought them. The 
rough colliers and miners of the Forest, and the 
shepherds and ploughmen of the hUls, alike 
crowded to the chapels when she was known to 
be coming. In some of the buildings the com- 
pany was so large (many listening through the 
opened doors and windows), and the heat so great, 
that the walls and floors were covered with mois- 
ture " as though they had been mopped;'' on one 
memorable occasion the meeting lasted fully two 
hours, and even then the throng of eager worship- 
pers was loth to depart, the power of the Lord 
was so manifestly present with them to heal and 
stimulate. 

Excepting one visit to the Eastern Counties, 
Eliza Sessions did not again travel from home as 
a preacher. As age and infirmities increased, the 
leadings of the Holy Ghost took her in a new 
direction ; and it was then laid upon her heart to 
commence the rescue work among the " Friend- 
less and Fallen," with which her name has been 
80 closely associated for some twenty years. The 
annual reports of the Institution which she 
founded and conducted so successfully are too 
familiar to our readers to need even summarising 



ELIZA. SESSIONS. 147 

in thiB place. It is enough to say that scores of 
young women are to-day living virtuous and 
Christian lives, who must have been among the 
lost^ but for the providence of God leading them 
to become inmates of the Gloucester Home of 
Hope. 

The end of Eliza Sessions' useful life was 
sudden. Though she had been failing for some 
time, no immediate danger was apprehended. 
She was at Teignmouth with her husband and 
daughter when the summons came. She was out 
walking, though with some difficulty, oH the 
Monday ; on Tuesday was taken seriously ill, 
and on the Wednesday departed to be with 
Christ. An upward glance and look in her eye, 
as though seeing heavenly things that were not 
revealed to others, was the only sign vouchsafed 
that she knew the time of her departure was at 
hand. No loving words uttered to bystanders 
cheer the bereaved with their fragrant memories. 
Better, however, than the fragrance of death-bed 
sayings is the incense of a holy life. The fruits 
of the Spirit, brought forth among the common 
places of every-day; loving deeds prompted by 
Christlike sympathy for the wayward and out- 
cast ; wise and winning appeals to sinful souls to 
come unto Him who loved them and gave Him- 



148 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

self for them ; these are the testimonies that con- 
Tince the world of the reality of religion, and the 
blessedness of walking with God. 

The funeral at the Gloucester Friends' Burial 
Ground at Grey Friars was very largely attended 
by townspeople, notably by those of the labouring 
classes, among whom she had laboured at the 
Park Street Mission and elsewhere. For a week 
afterwards the grave was heaped with the 
wreaths of the well-to-do, and the cottage- 
garden posies of the poor, who had but this way 
of showing their sorrowful love for her whose 
presence they will long miss from among 
them. 
Charlotte Elizabeth Shackleton, 

46 10 12 mo. 1887 

Lucan, DMin. Wife of Bichard Shackleton, 
BoBBRT W. Shaw, 32 19 4 mo. 1888 

Harrogate, 
Arthur Shemeld, 41 18 9 mo. 1888 

Northampton. 
Abraham Shield, 79 5 8 mo. 1888 

Btimlaw, AUendale. 
Major Shout, 72 23 8 mo. 1888 

Darlington. 
Susanna Sikes, Cork 82 27 8 mo. 1888 

Widow of Bobert Cherry Sikes. 



ANN SNOWDEN. 149' 

William Fishkr Sim, 65 22 11 mo. 1887 

Southport. 
JosiANA Smee, 52 14 7 mo. 1888 

Enfield, Widow of Sylvanus Smee. 
Ellen Smith, 52 27 12 mo. 1887 

Clifton, Bristol, 
Granville Smith, 41 17 3 mo. 1888 

Copperfield, Peak Downs, Queensland, formerly 

of Booking, Essex. 
George Smithson, 66 6 8 mo. 1888 

Edghaston, Birmingham, 
Ann Snowden, 91 5 2 mo. 1888 

Edghaston, Birmingham. An Elder. Widow 

of John Snowden, of Bradford. 
Ann Snowden was the daughter of Samuel 
and Ann Bentley, of Sheffield, and was born 
on the 29th of Seventh month, 1796. Deprived 
by death of her mother when about two years 
old, and having no brothers and sisters living, she 
became the especial care of her father, of whom 
she always retained the most affectionate re- 
membrance. When about nine years old she 
was sent to York School, and among other letters 
from her father, carefully preserved, is one 
addressed to her whilst there, in which, after 
telling her he hopes soon to meet her in Leeds 
at the Quarterly Meeting, he concludes : *' I 



150 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

request thee to be obedient 'to thy governesses 
loring to thy schoolfellows, and in every way to 
behave thyself as becomes a good girl ; this will 
make thee esteemed by all who know thee, and 
be a lasting pleasure to thyself ; 'twill be the 
greatest pleasure I can feel." It was not, how- 
ever, for long that she was to have the watchful 
care of this beloved parent; for when she had 
been at school about a year he was very suddenly 
taken away. ) When engaged in conversation with. 
a friend, and smiling at a remark mfide by him, 
he expired in a moment. This sudden bereave- 
ment was a great trial to her, and she keenly 
felt being left so lonely ; yet there is no doubt 
but that it tended to deepen her religious feel- 
ings, and led her to trust more in her Heavenly 
Father's guidance. In after-life she was often 
led to commemorate His goodness in having so 
watched over and provided for her. 

A few months after her fathei's death she 
returned to the school at York, which for seven 
years became her home. She was kind and 
affectionate towards her schoolfellows, especially 
towards new-comers, and was much beloved by* 
William and Ann Alexander who then had 
charge of the school. 

Whilst at York she formed many life-long 



ANN 8N0WDEN. 161 

friendships, some of them lasting over seyentj 

years. 

After leaving school her home was for some 
years at Rawdon, where several of her relatives 
resided, until, in 1823, she was married to John 
Snowden df Bradford. She found here a sphere 
of increased usefulness, though from delicate 
health she was often much confined at home; 
and, being naturally of a retiring and diffident 
disposition, she shrank from public service ; yet 
she took a warm interest in the work of others, 
and in ministering privately to any who were in 
need of counsel or of help. For many years she 
acceptably filled the office tt Elder. She joined 
heartily in the first movement in the Temperance 
cause more than fifty years ago, and retained an 
unabated interest in it through life. 

In 1850 she was called to part with a beloved 
daughter, and five years later she had also to 
resign her husband. These trials were borne 
with Christian meekness and submission to the 
Divine will, and stimulated her to more active 
sympathy with the suffering and afflicted. Eefer- 
ring to the loss of her husband, she says, " And 
now that he has left me behind for a little time 
longer, I desire not to idolise the creature, but 
that I may unreservedly give my heart to the 



152 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Lord. May His grace still abound to us, so that 
we may meet in heaven." 

In 1862 the last link to her home was severed 
by the death of her son, in typhoid fever ; and 
it seemed best that she should remove to Birming- 
ham, to be near her only remaining daughter. 
Here she spent the remainder of her days in 
peaceful quiet, enjoying intercourse with new- 
found friends, and keeping up correspondence 
with old ones. She was indeed lovely in character 
and in person, and the peacefully sweet expres- 
sion of her countenance bore witness to the peace 
that reigned within. Her humility was very- 
striking, and her tender and loving spirit often 
brought comfort and cheer to her friends. She 
was one of a band of excellent and gifted women, 
others of the group being Eliza Hack, Esther See- 
bohm and her sisters, and Margaret Marriott, 
the brightness and beauty of whose lives and 
characters will live long in the remembrance of 
those who knew them. 

Ann Snowden's life was lengthened out much 
beyond her expectation, and though constantly 
looking forward to the end, her enjoyment of the 
present life was not lessened, nor her interest in 
caring for others, and in what was going forward 
in the world. Her intellect remained clear with 



• ANN SNOWDEN. 163 

advancing age, and, though she often mourned 
lier want of faith and faithfulness, her abiding 
feeling was one of thankfulness for abounding 
mercies, and quiet trust in her Saviour's love. 

Her last illness was short — a chill brought 
on congestion of the lungs, which soon reduced 
lier feeble powers, and she sank peacefully 
away. 
Ellen Southall, 68 2 11 mo. 1887 

Birkenhead, Wife of Thomas Southall. 
Hubert John Spencbr-Bell, 

19 25 4 mo. 1888 

Devonshire Place, Westminster. Son of the 

late James and M. A. Spencer-Bell. 
Alfred Stapleton, 31 4 11 mo. 1887 

WaXham Green. 
Oliver Steed, 60 19 5 mo. 1888 

Baldock, 
Oharles Sturge, 86 1 5 mo. 1888 

Wribbenhally Bewdley, 
Oeorge Sturge, 90 14 4 mo. 1888 

Sydenham, 
Mary Sutton, 89 9 5 mo. 1888 

Stanvjix, Carlisle, Widow of Clement S. 

Sutton. 
Leonard Swan, — 22 12 mo. 1886 

AUrincham, 



154 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Amy Taylor, 7 30 4 mo. 188a 

NoriJi Shields. Daughter of William and 
Hannah Taylor. 
Annette Jane Taylor, 25 27 3 mo. 1888. 
MaUon, Wife of Frederic Taylor. 

Annette Jane Taylor was the daughter of 
Edward and Annette Fry, of Ipswich, where she 
resided till her marriage. 

Called at so early an age — in the bloom of 
her youth, loving and beloved — to lay down her 
mortal life, we cannot but think that it may he 
instructive to those who may remain a little 
longer, to bear testimony to the grace of our God 
to this dear young sister, drawing her to Him- 
self and making her a living witness for Him. 

In youth she was led to her Saviour, and as 
she grew up she manifested the calm and gentle 
demeanour which becomes the disciple of Christy 
and which so endeared her to those by whom 
she wa£{ surrounded. She had a strong will, but 
she learnt to yield it to her Lord, and to commit 
her way unto Him ; so that, as the years passed, 
she was found walking in His fear, and bringing, 
forth the fruits of the Spirit in her intercourse 
with others. 

She became an earnest worker in the First- 
day School at Ipswich, and in other ways was 



ANNETTn JANE TATLOB. 155 

concerned to do good to others and to speak to 
them of her Saviour. It was in 1879, when about 
seventeen years old^ that she entered the school as 
a teacher, beginning with seven women in her 
class. When she left it in 1887 it numbered 107 
members. Her influence lives to-day in the 
homes of many of these women ; she had a large 
gift of sympathy ; and, young as she was, entered 
into their trials and dij£culties in a remarkable 
way. Nor was her influence confined to the 
women's school : remarks made by her at the 
evening mission meetings are not unfrequently 
found to be remembered by one and another 
of ihe scholars ; and when she married and left 
the neighbourhood, she was not only missed by 
her own class, but by the school at large. 

In the Fourth month, 1887, she was married 
to Frederic Taylor, of Malton. On the morning 
of her mairiage, when ready for meeting, she asked 
her mother to kneel with her ; and prayed, as near 
as can be remembered, in these words : — " Dear 
loving Heavenly Father, I ask Thee to take all 
thoughts of self, dress, and the world away from 
me to-day, and let us at meeting realise that 
Jesus is present with us, and that we may serve 
Jesus only, all our lives, whether they be long or 
short." 



156 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Befening to this prayer, a friend at MaltoiL 
writes : — " To us comes now for the first time the. 
knowledge of the utterance of such a prayer as 
this ; but, as soon as A. J. T. came amongst us, we 
had abundant proof that it had been no empty 
petition, for it was evident to us all that she 
sought to do her Father's will." 

Her quiet, sympathetic interest in the work 
found in her new sphere, quickly called out a 
loTing response from the hearts of those with, 
whom she associated. From letters received 
after her death, it is touching to find how com- 
pletely she had won the affection of those with 
whom she had met but once or twice. Very 
helpful was the part she took in the adult school 
and in mission work ; her simple, loving words 
are still treasured in many grateful hearts. 

After eleven months of happy married life 
the summons came. It came to one who had 
been anxious to glorify God in her life here,, 
whether that life were to be " long or short ; " 
and it found her ready. On leaving the sitting- 
room the last evening that she spent downstairs,, 
she turned at the door, saying, "I must look 
again around this room where so many happy 
days have been spent ; I may never see it again.** 
A few days before the end she said to her husband. 



A17NETTE JANE TATLOB. 157 

" I think I shall be spared to you a little longer ; 
but God knows best/' 

After a week of illness, accompanied by 
much suffering, which was borne patiently and 
without complaint, her friends were suddenly 
made aware that her time on earth was nearly 
ended. On her mother making this known to 
her, her only anxiety seemed to be that her hus- 
band might be sent for. Before many more 
hours had passed away she had entered into rest, 
without a fear or a murmur, having taken leave 
of the watchers at the bedside, and exhorted them 
not to weep for her. No terror of death was 
there ; it was difficult to realise that her gentle 
spirit had really fled as she " fell asleep in God." 

Whittier's poems had long been of great help 
to her ; her own mark is opposite some of the 
woids quoted below, words which may well be 
remembered in connection with a life like hers. 

" Alone unto our Father's will, 
One thought hath reconciled ; 
That He whose love exceedeth ours,. 
Hath taken home His child. 

" Fold her, Father ! in Thine arms,. 
And let her henceforth be 
A messenger of love between 
Our human hearts and Thee. 



158 A'SNVhL MONITOB. 

" Still let her mild rebuking stand 
Between us ajid the wrong, 
And her deaf memory serve to make 
Our faith in goodness strong." 

Henry Taylor, 59 15 1 mo. 1888 

MaUon. A Minister. 

Henry Taylor was born at Malton in 1829, 
and was educated at Ackworth School. Whilst 
there he was much helped by the teaching and 
friendship of J. S. Sewell, then one of the younger 
masters. 

After leaving school at an age which would 
now be thought very early, he spent some years 
at business in Malton, Scarborough, and York; 
and about 1853 commenced on his own account 
at Malton, afterwards taking over the business 
carried on by his father. 

A narrow escape from drowning at Scar- 
borough made a deep impression upon his mind, 
and from the time of his settling finally in 
Malton, he was frequently working in the Tem- 
perance cause, speaking at village meetings, and 
helping in other good work which came in his 
way. 

In 1855 or 1856 he joined with others in form- 
ing the '* Malton and Norton Town Mission," an 
association which has continued ever since, en- 



HEKRY TATLOB. 159 

listing the help of Christians of all denominations. 
His earliest special work in connection with the 
above consisted in visiting, in company with 
another member, some local horse-training stables, 
to hold meetings with the jockeys. The meeting- 
place was a large underground saddle-room, and 
on one occasion the two were locked in and pelted 
with stones and dirt through a skylight. At 
another time some bags, apparently of potatoes 
piled, in one corner, began to roll about the floor 
during the singing of a hymn . But these ex- 
periences were in the early days. 

About this time also H. T. began a mission 
meeting on Thursday nights for the very poor, 
and such as were ashamed to attend the regular 
places of worship. Later, meetings were also held 
on Sundays, and these still continue to be held. 

In 1858 H. T. married Elizabeth Rown- 
tree, who, with four sons and two daughters, 
survives him. About this time he passed through 
much conflict on some doctrinal matters, was 
troubled at finding so little spiritual help amongst 
Friends, and almost felt that he must leave the 
Society. This, however, he was restrained from 
doing ; and in 1861 he first spoke in Malton Meet- 
ing, and from that time to the day preceding his 
death, he supplied to others as he was com- 



160 ANNUAL MONITOB. 

mifisioned, and to the fall of his ability, that food 
of which he had so deeply felt the need himself. 
He was recorded a minister in Fifth month, 
1870, much to his own surprise, and rather 
against his wishes at the time ; but afterwards, 
and especially when from home, he found the 
fact helpful. He says, '* 1 feel myself unfit for 
the office, yet n;Ly Master does graciously help 
me, and 1 trust I may be preserved from hinder- 
ing the blessed cause, and be made a blessing to 
others." 

H. T. sat for several years on the Local 
Board of Health, and was connected with other 
public bodies. To the last he was a moving 
spirit in the Temperance Societies, and in the 
Town Mission, and a frequent and appreciated 
visitor at the adult school. 

He took a very active part in Society busi- 
ness, was regular in attendance at Monthly and 
other meetings, and was one of the foremost 
workers in connection with the re-opening of 
closed meeting-houses in the locality. For many 
years he held a monthly service with the inmates 
of the workhouse. 

Though a successful man of business, and 
diligent in it to the last, it was increasingly 
noticeable during his latter years that merely 



HENRT TATLOB. 161 

business matters did not usurp the first place in 
his attention. It may with truth be said that 
his daily aim was to be about his Heavenly 
Father's business. His last cottage-meeting, held 
a few days before his death, seemed to have been 
a specially blessed time ; his own face shone as 
he returned home, and some of those who had 
been present, little thinking it was the last time 
they would meet with him, said that '^ they had 
almost been in heaven." 

His end came with great suddenness. He 
had been at business as usual for most of the 
market day, had a quiet evening with his wife, 
and retired, so far as was observed, in his usual 
health. He awoke about midnight, feeling some 
discomfort, which was soon allayed, and then he 
slept never to wake again on this side the veil. 

His funeral was very largely attended by a 
gathering representative of every sect and party. 
Many testimonies were given, some from unex- 
pected quarters, of appreciation of his honest, 
earnest, and unostentatious Christian life. 

The following extract from the letter of a 
near relative may close this imperfect sketch. 
'< Sometimes perhaps his life " (the early life is 
here alluded to) ^* has looked too much of a sacri- 
fice : but can we Judge ? Could his bright cheerful 



162 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

helpfulness in these later years have been so con 
epicuons, had he not tasted largely of the disci- 
pline of trial ? And is it not our greatest happiness 
to believe that, following thus in the footsteps 
of Jesus Christ on earth, he was being trained for 
the higher service, and the glorious fulness of 
blessing in the after life — the life of perfected 
knowledge and of love, for which we long ? ' 

^^ Also we must feel thankful for the comfort 
and CDJoyment w^hich our dear one tasted of 
even here ; and will not his example and his 
memory help all those who were dear to him, 
however sorrowfully his loss may be felt ? Such 
a life tells so much ; and while many people are 
perplexed with problems, it stands, by the help 
and blessing of God, as a witness which cannot 
be set aside." 
Lucy Taylor, 81 15 1 mo. 1888 

Bathmines, Dublin, Widow of John Taylor. 
Sarah Taylor, 62 28 6 mo. 1888 

Halstead. Wife of Martin Taylor. 
Annie Temple, 37 15 7 mo. 1888 

Christchurch, New Zealand, Wife of Joseph 

Temple. 
Elizabeth Thistlethwaite, 

Eawes. 77 1 1 mo. 1888 

Wife of Simon Thistlethwaite, 



richabd thompson. 163 

Sarah Thistlbthwaite, 

Eedland, Bristol 77 6 4 mo. 1888 

Widow of Kichard Thistlethwaite. 
Mary Hooper Thomas, 69 30 1 mo. 1888 

Mafichester, Wife of Frederic Thomas. 
Eichard Thompson, 77 20 6 mo. 1888 

Gainsborough. A Minister. 
Though not so well known as some, and 
unable for some years past to go much from home, 
yet we feel that we can hardly pass over the life 
of Richard Thompson without a brief notice. 

He was the son of John and Jane Thompson, 
and was born at Hawes, in Wensleydale, in 1811. 
After his birth his parents removed to Kendal, 
where their exemplary Christian lives are still 
remembered. A short time before his marriage 
he settled in Whitehaven, but subsequently 
removed to Gainsborough, where he spent the 
remainder of his life- 

As his mind was more and more brought 
into subjection to the yoke of Christ, he became 
zealous for the prosperity of His truth, and before 
his own acknowledgment as a minister he was 
indefatigible as the companion and helper of 
others. The efficient service which he rendered 
to the late John Hodgkin, Edward Backhouse, 
and others, in their Gospel labours in Lincoln- 



164 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

shire and some of the neighbouring counti-es 
more than forty years ago is still remem- 
bered. 

His ministry was at once simple and prac- 
tical, tender and persuasive. Love reigned in 
his heart. His whole deportment was a living 
illustration of the "joy and peace in believing ;" 
and the unspoken lessons of his daily consistent 
life have left a memory behind that will not 
readily be forgotten. 

Owing to weakness at the heart, his sleep, in 
the latter years of his life, was often interrupted, 
and for many months before his death he was 
unable to lie in a natural position ; but his 
patience was very instructive ; he was never 
heard to complain, and would often say, in answer 
to inquiries after his health, " Oh ! I have had 
such nice sleep, I have so much to be thankful 
for ! " And on retiring to rest, if anyone said, 
" I hope thou wilt get a good night," his reply 
would be, " Yes, my dear, I hope we . all shalL" 
Thoughtfulness for others was a marked feature 
of his character. He never desired good for 
himself alone. 

His habitual cheerfulness during his long 
confinement to the house, in his last winter and 
spring, was very teaching ; he bore it without a 



BICHABD THOMPSON. 166 

murmiiTy though naturally of an active, energetic 
temperament, and always seemed full of gratitude 
for the blessings he still enjoyed. He read much 
during this time, and also greatly appreciated 
hearing reading, but was ever careful not to 
impose this as a burden on others. 

His Christianity was of that happy order 
which commended religion to all around him. 
His room was always brightened by his kindly, 
loving, genial spirit. 

He was at meeting on the last two meeting 
days preceding his death, and on one of these 
he spoke very impressively, and returned thanks 
for the privilege of being able to be present. 
He purposed attending again on the following 
First-day, but before the hour came round he 
had quietly and peacefully fallen asleep in Jesus, 
and joined that great and more blessed meeting 
of the Church triumphant in Heaven, who ^^have 
washed their robes and made them white in the 
blood of the Lamb." He died on the morning 
of First-day, the 20th of Fifth month, passing 
quietly away in sleep. Thus was fulfilled his 
often-expreesed wish, " I should like to die in 
harness." His attitude had long been that of 
one who waited for the coming of his Lord. 

He was held in high esteem by his fellow- 



166 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

townsmen, who often sought his advice, and who 

testified their respect by attending his funeral in 

large numbers, business being suspended for the 

time. 

Thomas Triplow, 60 14 7 mo. 1888 

Chatteris. 
Caroline L. Tyler, 29 26 10 mo. 1888 

Stoke Neivington, Daughter of Ellen and the 

late James Tyler. 

C. L. Tyler passed away after a few weeks' 
illness, leaving a comforting assurance to those 
who mourn her loss that she has gone to dwell 
with her blessed Bedeemer, for whom she had 
worked in a quiet unassuming way. One night, 
early in her illness, she sang in a clear voice the 
hymn, ^' Safe in the arms of Jesus," and, turning 
to her mother, said, "That is where I am." 
Throughout her illness she showed great patience, 
and thoughtful care for her beloved mother, and 
those who waited on her. 
Mart Unthank, 83 2 11 mo. 1887 

North Shields, Widow of George Unthank. 
Emily G. Uprichard, 35 26 10 mo. 1887 

Gilford, Moyallon. Wife of Henry A. 

Uprichard. 
James Wadha^i, 77 27 4 mo. 1888 

Darlington. 



SARAH WALKEB. 167 

John Walford, 85 8 8 mo. 1888 

Neithrop, BaTihwry. 
Elizabbth Walker, 77 25 3 mo. 1888 

Darlington, Widow of Joseph Walker. 
Mart Walker, 84 7 10 mo. 1887 

Bastridk, Widow of Samuel Walker. 
Sarah Walker, 83 21 2 mo. 1888 

Bradford, A Minister. Widow of Thomas 

Walker. 

*' Did not God choose them that are poor as 
to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the 
kingdom which He promised to them that love 

Him ? " 

These words find an apt illustration in the 
character and experience of Sarah Walker, who 
in a life sometimes marked by a straggle with 
poverty, with very little advantage as to education, 
and but little known beyond her immediate sur- 
roundings, was yet rich in faith in the Lord Jesus 
Christ, and was made a helper, a teacher, and a 
comforter to many in humble life, as well as to 
some whose social advantages far exceeded her 
■own. 

About the year 1866 she composed an auto- 
biography, from which most of the statements 
■contained in this account of her are gathered. 
She was born in 1804, at the village of Bradley, 



168 ANKUAL MONITOR. 

near Skipton, and was the daughter of John and 
Ann Currer, pious people belonging to the 
Methodists. Their family was very large, thirteen 
sons and daughters living to maturity. S. W. 
says : — " "When I was about nine years of age, I 
went to hear a Methodist minister of the name of 
Thomas Barrett, who preached a sermon on the 
text, ' What shall it profit a roan if he gain the 
whole world and lose his own soul 1 * and he placed 
it before me in such a light, that I wept bitterly, 
and my miud was very much wrought upon. I 
used to retire and pray in private ; but by not 
attending to the drawings of the Spirit I grew 
careless. About that time I went out to service, 
and had many difficulties to contend with in 
getting to chapel on First-days. My master was 
a well-to-do man, and wanted me to do a deal of 
unnecessary work ; but I managed to get out 
sometimes, and the Lord in His mercy kept me 
near Him, so that I did not get very far astray. 
. . . When I was nearly nineteen there was a 
revival, and many young people began to be 
thoughtful about their souls' safety. I was in 
great distress of mind on account of sinning 
against light and knowledge ; I felt as if I was 
going down to hell with a light in my hand ; and 
I wished I was a dog, or anything but an account- 



S^BAH WALKBB. 169 

able being. At this time a travelliDg preacher 
came to ooi village, and preached a sermon on thek 
text^ ' Sirs, what must I do to be saved 1 ' Before 
the meeting I had some conversation with him^ 
and he saw how it was with me, and said, ' The 
Lord in His mercy is ploughing you deep, that 
seed may be sown and not wither so soon/ Whilst 
he was preaching many passages seemed to apply 
to me : one was, ' I will cast thy sins behind my 
back, and remember them, no more to thy con- 
demnation/ I claimed it for myself, and light 
gradually dawned on me, so that I was like the 
man who began to see men as trees walking. 
From that time, for a good while, I went on very 
smoothly and comfortably." 

Sarah Currer was married to Thomas Walker 
in 1824. He had been brought into serious- 
thoughtfulness at the time of the revival alluded 
to above. In a few years they were surrounded 
by a family of young children, and S. W. felt 
very deeply her responsibility in having them to> 
train for time and for eternity. 

S. Walker's first attraction towards Friends 
resulted from her attendance, when about twenty- 
four years old, of a meeting held at Skipton by 
the late Martha Thomhill and a companion, at 

which she was led to see the value of " silent 

Q 



170 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

waiting and watching, and not being carried away 
with words;'' and from that time she became 
more and more dissatisfied with singing in public 
worship, '^ feeling that not one hymn could be 
sung in which all could unite." Shortly after- 
wards, she says, ^'I heard a preacher deliver a 
sermon which I afterwards found he had learnt 
by heart, as we had it in our own house, in a 
book written by John Wesley. This made me 
begin to feel very much dissatisfied with man's 
preaching, unless he wad rightly called." Whilst 
under these convictions, she was visited by a 
Priend, who told her that he believed if she was 
Mthful to the teachings of the Holy Spirit, she 
would become a Friend ; and she then resolved, 
if she should ever have the opportunity, that she 
would become a regular attender of Friends' 
meetings. 

Thomas Walker was a wool-comber, and ob- 
tained his work at Keighley, whither he had to 
walk, a distance of nearly eight miles, to fetch 
the wool. When trade became more prosperous 
in 1841, thinking it desirable that he should be 
nearer to his work, they removed to Bradford. 
There the desired opportunity of attending the 
meetings of Friends was embraced, and S. Walker 
very soon severed her connection with the Wes- 



SARAH WAITER. 171 

leyans, and in 1856 was received into member- 
ship with Friends. 

About three years after their removal to 
Bradford, Thomas Walker died, leaving his widow 
comforted with the assurance that all was well 
with him, but leaving her also to care alone for 
her family of children. It was not long before 
they became very poor, and S. W, was compelled 
to become for two years a recipient of parish 
relief. She says, " At one time during our dis- 
tress, I was two whole days without anything to 
eat ; but God, who cares for the sparrows, cared 
for me, and sent me relief. David Smith, not 
knowing of our poverty, called on me and gave 
me five shillings, which relieved our present 
wants* I might have gone on credit, but I knew 
how difficult it is to get debts paid with a family 
of young children, and I have always thought 
that getting credit is dottm hill work, but getting 
out of debt up hill.^* Eventually she felt herself 
directed by a dream to take a small coal store 
which was for disposal in her neighbourhood, 
and was able by care and diligence to clear her- 
self from all indebtedness and to provide for her 
family. 

About the year 1849, S. Walker began to 
feel herself called to speak in the meeting, which 



172 ANNUAL MONITOB. 

she attended on week-daya as well as on First- 
days : but, as so many others have done, she 
yielded to the fear of man, and held back from 
obedience. How could she, in her simplicity and 
ignorance, ''speak amongst a learned people"? 
So she reasoned ; and so reasoning withheld 
obedience to the Spirit's prompting, imtil she 
was brought into great darkness and oppression 
of soul, imder which her health broke down and 
she became very ill. In this time of distress, as 
she says, her cry was '''Lord what wilt Thou 
have me to dol' Then I saw that to make a 
building complete, the fillers were required as 
well as the front stones, and I yielded that what 
the Lord required of me I would do. From that 
time I began to recover." Shortly afterwards 
she again felt drawn to offer prayer in meeting, 
and her obedience brought peace and comfort to 
her heart. 

S. Walker's utterance was always marked by 
the broad vernacular of the West Biding of 
Yorkshire, and there is no doubt but that the 
prayer above alluded to was a little startling to 
some who heard it on this account ; nevertheless 
it was surely a mistake on the part of a woman 
Friend, who after this, her first act of public 
■obedience to the call of her Lord, requested that 



8ARAH WALKBR. 173 

she would not again offer prayer in meeting. 
Under discouragement at this rebuff, S. W. for 
along time kept silence in meeting, and again 
fell into spiritual darkness and distress, until the 
words of Jesus, addressed to Peter, were powerfully 
impressed upon her mind, '^ Lovest thou Me more 
than these? Feed My sheep;'' and she waa 
strengthened again to obey the call of the Lord ; 
and after some years she was recorded as a 
minister by her Monthly Meeting. 

In her public addresses and prayers, which 
were usually brief, the homely and untutored 
laoguage which she employed was overlooked 
under the deep earnestness and reverence with 
which she spoke, and her words often brought 
strength and comfort to those who heard them. 
But it was not in public only that she was thus 
made helpful to her friends. She loved to see 
them in the quiet of her own humble home, 
when, in her later years, she lived with her son 
Charles, to speak with them of the goodness and 
faithfulness of the Lord, and to join with them 
in prayer at the throne of grace. *' Thou must 
not reason," she would sometimes say to one of 
them who loved to visit her, and whose spirit 
was often sorely burdened and cast down, " Thou 
must not reason, but trust in the Lord for ever^ 



174 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

for with Him is everlasting strength ; " and many 
a time did her friend Aeare her, feeling com^ 
forted and refreshed hj her loving words of 
cheer. 

From quite early life she had been a diligent 
visitor of the sick, and she says that when about 
fifty years of age, it had long been her desire to 
make it her daily occupation to visit the father- 
less and widows, and to be a light to the blind ; 
and now the Lord in His mercy granted her 
«Lesire. A person .who had been employed by 
the late John Priestman as a distributor of 
temperance tracts and literature, relinquished 
his post, which was offered to her and gladly 
accepted. She was thus relieved from the 
laborious work of her coal store, and entered 
upon her new and more congenial employment, 
which brought her abundant opportunities of 
pleading with the careless and with sinners, that 
they would think of their eternal interests, and 
listen to the glad message of the Gk)spel of the 
Lord Jesus Christ ; of sitting by the bedside of 
the sick and dying, praying with and for them, 
and pointing them to that Saviour in whom all 
her own hopes rested ; and of speaking words of 
comfort and cheer to the bereaved and desolate. 
Many were the interesting cases which came 



SARAH WALKER. 175 

fmder her notice ; to some of them she was led 
providentially, as she sometimes went out " not 
knowing whither she went." Often was she sen 
for in haste in cases of accident or serious illness, 
the people saying they would rather have her to 
see them than '^ the minister." And to not a 
few she was made by her Lord an effective 
messenger of life and peace. 

For many of the later years of her long life 
Sarah Walker was confined mostly indoors, in 
very feeble health. She, however, continued to 
take a warm interest in everything affecting the 
welfare of her friends and their meetings, and 
gladly welcomed the younger ones who called 
npon her, and such as were engaged in the work 
of the schools and mission meetings ; seeking to 
€heer and encourage them to go on hopefully and 
trustfully; telling them that though she could not 
be present with them, she could and did pray 
for them, that they might be guided aright ; and 
sometimes quoting a favourite verse from Wesley's 
hymn-book : — 

" What now is my object and aim ? 
What now is my hope and desire ? 
To follow the heavenly Lamb, 
And after His image aspire. 



176 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

My hope is all centred in Thoe ; 
I trust to recover Thy love ; 
On earth Thy salvation to see, 
And then to enjoy it above.** 

During her last two years memory began to 
fail her, but her favourite passages of Scriptuie, 
especially the tenth chapter of Romans and the 
eighty-fourth and ninety-first Psalms, were kept 
constantly within reach of her couch. She never 
lost her hold on the things of the heavenly king- 
dom, and often repeated the lines : — 

*' Abide with me ; fast falls the eventide ; 
The darkness deepens ; Lord, with me abide." 

As her last days drew on she requested 
her friends to pray for her, that she might be 
patient and resigned, for she was waiting and 
ready for her Lord to come. Her heart seemed 
filled with gratitude to her Heavenly Fatheiu 
*' Lord, what is man that Thou art mindful of 
him ? " was often on her lips. Her end was 
peace, perfect peace ; when she could speak of 
little else than the goodness of her God and 
Saviour. Her last words were, ^'Come, Lord 
Jesus, come quickly ; *' and very soon she fell 
asleep in Him, and, as we cannot doubt, was 
satisfied in her new awaking, with His like* 
nes8. 



MARGARET H. WALLIS. 177 

Elizabeth Wallis, 52 13 1 mo. 1888 

Southampton, 
Margaret H. Wallis, 35 4 12 mo. 1887 

Southport, Daughter of Hannah and the late 

Arthur Wallis. 
It is with no thought of drawing up a formal 
memoir that the following lines have been penned; 
but it has seemed as if a short description of the life 
of one heavily weighted with physical deprivation 
and weakness, and yet pervaded with peaceful 
and even joyous submission to the Divine will, 
would further the honour and glory of Him, 
whose great and all-powerful love alone makes 
such lives possible, and whose strength is indeed 
made perfect in the weakness of those who trust 
in Him. Also it is hoped that this short sketch 
may bring a word of comfort to some who also 
hre set aside to sujQFer the discipline of weakness, 
reminding them that there is work even for them 
to do, |or that they '' also serve who only stand 
and wait." 

The subject of this notice, Margaret Hannah 
Wallis, was bom at Brighton in 1852, but while 
fltill young she removed with the other members 
of her family to Southport, where the rest of her 
life was spent. 

It was at about the age of fifteen that the 



178 ANNUAL MONITOB. 

earliest symptoms of defective sight appeared; 
but so slowly did the shadow spread that it was 
not until some eight or nine years later that 
it became evident that it was the Father's will 
that the darkness that shrouded her should be 
complete. 

Although she had yielded her heart to a 
Saviour's love while still in the early dawn of a 
beautiful and unclouded girlhood, yet He had 
many lessons still to teach her of His love and 
all-Bufiicient grace, ere she was able in full and 
joyful submission to recognise that His will was 
'' good and acceptable and perfect/' 

She derived much help and blessing from 
the Keswick Conventions, being able to attend 
several of the earlier gatherings in that beautiful 
and favoured spot. There, like so many othenfi 
she realised something of the '< fulness of the 
blessing of the Gospel of Christ." Her sweet 
,£ace, with its peaceful and satisfied expression, 
was an index to the inner spiritual growth. 

The subject of Faith Healing was brought 
under her consideration about this time, and very 
earnestly did she endeavour to find out what 
might be the Lord's will for her in this mattei. 
It may be that there is much yet to be revealed 
in connection with this subject, ere we can feel 



MARGARET H. WALLIS. 179 

that we Lave been led into all truth concerning 
it ; yet it is to be regretted that the somewhat 
crude views held by its early propounders were 
Buffered to disturb the peace of many an afflicted 
child of God. In this case, after a long period 
of patient waiting, M. H. Wallis was brought to 
see that her Father in love withheld the answer 
to her prayer for sight ; and, although the dis- 
appointment was keen at first, yet as time wore 
on, once more her peace flowed as a river ; and, 
with spiritual senses exercised by reason of use, 
she bravely and patiently gave up the hope of 
ever being' again able to see. 

Qradually, to total blindness was added great 
weakness and frequent suffering, so that often for 
months together she was unable to rise from her 
couch. Long before this she had been obliged to 
^ve up teaching, for which profession she had 
been trained. Still in many ways she could guide 
and influence the young by whom she was sur- 
roimded in the school conducted by her mother 
atid sister, and she was fond of practising the 
younger girls in reading aloud to her. There are 
those now who can trace their first thoughts of 
good to a word in season spoken when they ''went 
to read to Miss Margaret." Indeed, many testi- 
monies have been given to the helpful influence 



180 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

of her gentle, Christ-like life, and sweet, unselfish 
disposition. Her bright, unfailing interest in 
everything around her was very noticeable; and 
in watching her speaking countenance, lit up with 
animation and interest, it was often difficult to 
realise that she was blind. 

Athough unable to exert herself actively, yet 
she derived much pleasure from various sorts of 
handiwork, with which her deft fingers were con^ 
stantly occupied. This gift, humble as it may be 
considered, was yet improved to the utmost, and 
she was enabled by it frequently to raise conside- 
rable sums of money for various good^ works in 
which she was interested. 

In 1886 a severe attack of rheumatic fever 
entirely prostrated her strength, and it seemed as 
if she could not rally from the excessive weakness. 
However, she was given back to her loved ones 
for a season ; and although she felt it somewhat 
hard to be brought so near to the golden gates 
and not allowed to enter, yet life had still much 
sweetness for her ; and for more than two yeara 
longer she continued to preach eloqaent, U 
silent, sermons, on the peace and joy of a conse- 
crated life, and a will in unison with the " Will 
that governs the Universe." 

Her blindness and physical weakness made 



MARGARET H. WALLIS. 181 

writiug very distasteful to her, and habitual reti- 
cence on the highest subjects prevents the secrets 
of her inner life from being revealed. But it was 
in her life more than with her lips that she 
showed forth her Saviour's praises, and few came 
into contact with her without feeling impelled to 
drink of the " secret source of every precious 
thing," from which she so manifestly drew her 
strength to suffer and be strong. 

It was in the late autumn of 1887 that symp- 
toms of what proved her last illness showed them- 
selves, and this time she could not rally. A deep 
unconsciousness brooded over her for the last few 
weeks, and prevented all farewell words. But 
words were not needed ; the perfect peace of her 
countenance while passing through the dark river 
that divides the here from the hereafter was 
sufficient testimony that she ''felt the bottom 
and that it was good." 

In witnessing such a departure, sorrow was 
indeed swallowed up in deep and sacred joy that 
the Saviour " had seen of the travail of His soul 

9 

and been satisfied," in this dear child of His ; while 
as for her, we may reverently believe that, saved 
by her Bedeemer^s love, her eyes, so long closed 
to all earthly things, now '' see the King in His 
beauty, and behold the land that is very far off." 

R 



182 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Emma Walton, 83 3 9 mo. 1888 

Bishop Aucklwnd, An Elder. Widow of 

Christoplier Walton. 
Mart Ann Wardbll, ^ 69 13 4 mo. 1888 

Oldham. Wife of Joseph Wardell. 
Arthur Warner, 70 17 11 mo. 1887 

Tunbridge Wells. 
Jamss Warner, 41 9 6 mo. 1888 

Heworthj Nevxastle. 
John T. Warner, 37 7 9 mo. 1888 

Hoddesdon, Son of Septimus and Elizabeth 

Warner. 
John Watson, 82 7 8 mo. 1888 

Dublin, 
Joshua Watson, 77 21 7 mo. 1888 

Oateshead. 
Matthew Watson, 18 29 12 mo. 1887 

BcUlinderry. Son of Matthew Watson. 
John Wilfrid Webb, 35 1 6 mo. 1888 

Broamfield, Essex. 
Mart Wbstlaks, 67 6 10 mo. 1887 

SimUiampton. 

The retiring nature of Mary Westlake would 
have shrunk from any public record of her life, 
but its lessons are too valuable to pass by with- 
out a few words of comment. 

She was the sister of William C. Westlake, 



MART WE8TLAKB. 183 

whose memoir appears in this Annmil Monitor 
The brother and sister were most closely united, 
and within six weeks both were gathered to their 
eternal rest. 

Mary Westlake was one of those quiet con- 
sistent Christian characters that shed their power- 
ful and kindly influence on all around, and whose 
brightest sphere is the home circle. She was, 
however, the moving spring of some of the 
benevolent institutions of the town in which she 
resided, notably of the Servants' Training School, 
of which she was honorary secretary for more than 
thirty years. She also acted as secretary to 
the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Bible Society, a cause 
which lay very near her heart. Other philan- 
thropic movements were indebted to her ripe 
judgment and active co-operation. But the great 
charm was in her sweet unselfish Christian 
character, and the example of her daily life. 
Possessed of a powerful, refined, and cultivated 
mind, it might truly be said that she *^ adorned 
the doctrine of God her Saviour in all things.** 

Her illness was of short duration, but the 
calm unruffled peace with which she met her 
unexpected call was a proof of the reality of her 
steadfast faith in Christ. She entered into 
the joy of her Lord, trusting solely in the com- 



184 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

pleted work and sacrifice of her Lord and 

Saviour. 

William Colson Westlakb, 

Sovihampton. 65 21 11 mo. 1887 

A Minister. 
So recently has the animating presence of 
this dear Friend been amongst us, that it seems 
almost impossible to believe that the well-known 
Editor of the FrievM Quarterly Excmmer is no 
more, that the " Voice from Southampton " has 
spoken its last words. 

Some of his latest thoughts, echoed from the 
Malvern Hills, were wonderfully typical of the 
closing days so soon to follow. The description 
of that sunset of unsullied glory, where the 
threatening storm-clouds had smoothed away 
under its mellowing rays, and an infinite calm 
overspread the horizon, cannot but suggest now 
its spiritual counterpart, when the dreaded suffer- 
ings of a wasting disease, which appeared like 
threatening storm-clouds, were smoothed away 
by the Almighty Hand of Love, and an infinite 
rest overspread his spirit. This continued until 
he passed on to the still calmer rest and higher 
service in one of the many mansions in his 
Father^s House. Those who watched the flicker- 
ing life fade away from his countenance, so restful 



WILLIAM COLSON WBSTLAKB. 185 

and noble to the last, were strikingly conscious 
that death was only the semblance, and that life 
was the reality ; that although the outward man 
was perishing, the inward man was being raised 
up to live in a higher glory with the Lord of Life 
in Paradise. 

William Colson Westlake was born in South- 
ampton in 1822. His family for generations past 
had been members of our religious Society. As 
a boy he was remarkably courageous and active, 
excelling in all games, boating, cricket, skating, 
&c. ; he also possessed great mechanical skill. 
These qualities, combined with a very amiable 
disposition, rendered him a favourite school com- 
panion. We can trace these traits of character, 
thus early shown, in the pursuits which he 
warmly encouraged in later life ; in the deter- 
mined will with which he pressed through diffi- 
culties in the cause of truth or to assist those 
who were in trouble. " Constantly bent on the 
goal duty " — ^was the phrase used by one who 
knew him well to denote the attitude of his life ; 
and the powerful way in which he advocated the 
various institutions of his native town testifies to 
the correctness of this remark. There are few 
charitable institutions in Southampton that do 
not owe much of their prosperity to W. C. West- 



186 ANKUAIi MONITOR. 

lake. The Infirmary, Dispensary, the School 
Board, the Penny Bank, Young Men's Christian 
Association, Working Men's Club and Refresh- 
ment Rooms, Blanket Loan Society, and Hospital 
Sunday Fund, were among the many causes that 
received his warm interest and practical support. 

In 1875 he espoused the cause of temperance, 
and took the pledge under Canon Wilberforce, 
since which time he has worked side by side with 
this great temperance reformer, who felt his de- 
cease as a personal and private sorrow. 

In the year 1856 he married Elizabeth, eldest 
daughter of the late Millis Coventry, of Wands- 
worth ; and together they instituted those garden 
parties for policemen, postmen, cabmen, Sunday 
school teachers, &c., with their families, which 
became an annual pleasure to those who partook 
in them. 

As the best exponent of the loss sustained by 
his fellow-townsmen, the following may be quoted 
from the Sovthampton Times : — 

" It is with feelings of no ordinary regret, 
and with a deep sense of personal as well as 
public loss, that we record the death of our well- 
known and highly esteemed fellow-townsman, 
Mr. W. C. Westlake, J.P. The whole commu- 
nity, apart altogether from differences or opinion, 



WILLIAH OOLSON WSSTLAKB. 187 

whether of a religious, political, or social cha- 
racter, must have shared the experience of a com- 
mon sorrow, when the fact of Mr. Westlake's 
death became known ; and the more fully it is 
realised the greater will the magnitude and 
seriousness of the loss appear. It is given to few 
men to fill so varied and large a sphere of useful- 
ness as was the case with our deceased friend ; 
and of him it may taruly be said, that while hold- 
ing firmly to his own distinctive views and opi- 
nions, he was the friend and helper of all, and 
ever found his highest joy in rendering true ser- 
vice and in doing real good to those around him • 
. . . There was always an earnest design and 
intent in all his movements, and it may be truly 
said of Mr. Westlake that he endeavoured faith- 
fully to carry out the injunction, ' Whatsoever 
thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.' 

" Although affected with an incurable com- 
plaint he was mercifully spared much of the suf- 
fering attending it. His last few days were 
peaceful in the extreme, and at eight o'clock on 
Monday evening he quietly breathed his last, at 
the age of sixty-five. . . . Mr. Westlake has been 
summoned to another sphere, where the labour 
is without weariness, and the reward ever present. 
We mourn his loss as that of a soldier who has 



188 ANNUAL MONirOB. 

fiillen in the forefront of the battle ; but who 
shall say that his work was not done, or question 
the wisdom that has closed this chapter in the 
book of life ? We rejoice in the fact that he who 
has gone was ready for the change, and that while 
many have been specially benefited, the whole 
community m/ust be the better for the life and 
labours of William Colson Westlake." 

But whilst the town at large justly mourns 
the loss of so useful and excellent a leader, his 
own family circle have more than equal cause to 
sorrow for one so deeply beloved. It was here 
that the tenderness of his nature was pre-eminently 
shown, so that his nearest relatives were cherished 
with a special individuality of affection. Few 
who knew W. C. Westlake only in public life, 
could credit the loving gentleness that dwelt 
underneath his outward firmness. 

« Tender as woman — manliness and meekness 
In liim were so allied, 
That they who judged him by his strength or 
weakness 
Saw but a single side." 

His frequent calls on the sick and afflicted and 
the generous assistance rendered in all cases of 
difficulty or distress, performed with such cheeri- 
ness and sprightly thought, endeared him to all 



WILLIAM GOLBON WESTLAKE. 189 

who knew him, and stimulated to energy and 
peneverance. One other feature of his character 
deserves special notice — ^the ardour with which 
he entered into outward life. He encouraged all 
innocent and manly recreations, his motto being» 
" use the world as not abusing it." Yet he always 
maintained the attitude of the Christian reformer, 
contending earnestly, yet with a kindness that 
won respect, with those who differed from him. 
He was never daunted by failure, but appeared to 
gather fresh courage in facing difficulties ; yet he 
ever took a humble view of himself, acknowledg- 
ing that after all he had done he was but ^' the 
unprofitable servant who had done that which it 
was his duty to do." 

And now we would turn to his more hidden 
and deeper life . From this we find that the spring 
of all the good he was enabled to accomplish was 
communion with Christ. 

W. C. Westlake was a recorded Minister for 
about twenty-five years. His religious service 
was chiefly within the boundary of his own 
Quarterly Meeting, where his matured thought 
and experience were greatly valued. He was a 
diligent attender of the Yearly Meeting, in which 
his judgment was highly prized ; and for many 
years he gave an annual review of its proceedings 



190 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

in the Friends' Quarterly Examiner, He often 
visited the smaller meetings around him ; but his 
chief interest was reserved for the members of 
his own, often visiting them in the sick chamber, 
and personally helping in any cases of difficulty. 

About a year previous to his death, William 
C. Westlake was found to have the germs of 
that fatal disease which hastened his departure to 
the better land. After prayerful consultation 
with his friends he went through two operations 
by the advice of his physician. The following 
personal testimony was written at this juncture : 
— " With this contingency before me " (i.e., the 
possibility of a fatal issue) " the tremendous reality 
of the life beyond impelled me to ' try the founda- 
tions,' and test the real supporting power of that 
whereon my eternal hope rested. ... A Person, 
not a Creed, was that towards which my anxious 
heart longed to reach forth when in deep waters, 
and to hear the compassionate voice : * Fear not ; 
I am the first and the last, and the Living One ; 
I was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore, 
and I have the keys of death and of Hades, . . 
An earnest gaze at the Cross on Calvary, at Him^ 
the eternal Son of God, who there hung for our 
sakes, — * Who His own self bore our sins in His 
own body,' was the only and all-sufficient resource 



WILUAM COLSON WBSTLAKE. 191 

upon which mj yearning anxious soul could rest 
aipidst all." 

Five months afterwards the disease re- 
appeared, and the doctors pronounced his case 
beyond human aid. Many earnest prayers 
ascended to God, that if in accordance with His 
will, the complaint might be removed ; but His 
time had come to call His beloved servant home ; 
yet lovingly the Lord answered the prayers by 
mitigating the pain and other trying atten- 
dants of the malady. From the time it was first 
discovered, the Lord bestowed a marked deepen- 
ing of the spiritual life. He brought him into a 
wealthy place, and his ministry was in the fresh 
demonstration of the Spirit, and with power. 

His last utterance in the ministry in his own 
meeting was a beautiful testimony to the life of 
Christ within him. A few sentences may be 
quoted from memory :t- 

" Although physically unable to speak more 
than a few words, I feel I must bear witness to 
the reality of this salvation to carry us through 
the greatest trials. I sometimes feel that in this 
little meeting, where we are so bound together by 
family ties and by the bonds of Christian love, 
there is a fear, when one is laid aside by affliction, 
of undue prominence being given to that one. 



192 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

" If we think of the events of the past few 
weeks, how one dear sister who has often been 
amongst us of late ** (his sister, Mary Westlake) 
^' has been safely landed on the eternal shore ; 
how another now lies on a sick bed, often in great 
suffering ; and then, for myself, who, through all 
that has come to me, have never been able to 
inscribe the word chast&nmg against it ** (meaning 
that love was so manifest in all), . . ^' we see that 
no stoical endurance can be compared to that 
trust of the Christian believer, that aU things 
work together for good to them that love Gk>d. 

" Even in the midst of suffering, may we 
never allow gloom to be cast over our life, but 
enjoy the blessings given to us by the wayside. 

^' O dear Friends, dear young Friends espe- 
cially, when the impression of these events has in 
some measure subsided, let not the reality they 
teach, pass away. Oh ! what a Saviour we have ! 
Let not the temptations of agnosticism, scepti- 
cism, or the inducements to lead an impure life 
because others around us do so, ever allow us to 
give way, or to doubt the reality of His presence 
and power to save. 

'^ For this reason I stand here to bear witness 
that even when things are beyond human power, 
and seem walled up against us, with the waves 



WILLIAM GOLBON WESTLAKE. 193 

around us roaring, though there is outward suf- 
fering, there is inward peace and joy. • . . No 
child of Qod has ever had to endure more than 
he has been enabled to bear." 

From this time his active life subsided, and 
for the last fortnight he remained quietly at 
home, tended lovingly by his wife and daughter, 
only able to see the members of his fEimily as they 
called. To some of these he expressed in ardent 
terms his trust in the Lord. '' I am in my Hea- 
venly Father's hand." <^ It is all unbounded love 
and unfailing mercy, and so it always has been." 
'^ Each one will be cared for," &c., &c. 

From this time he was almost free from 
pain, and in the peace of God, which passeth all 
understanding, he calmly awaited his summons 
hence ; and we doubt not an entrance was minis- 
tered to him abundantly into the everlasting 
kingdom of his Lord and Saviour. The prayer 
on many hearts was, ^' May my last end be like 
his." 

The funeral was very largely attended, all 
classes of his fellow-townsmen testifying by their 
presence how great was their love and respect 
towards one who for so many years had lived 
in their midst, and of whom it might be 
emphatically said, '^ he went about doing good." 

s 



194 ANNUAL MONITOR. 

Mart Ann Whitburn, 85 14 11 mo. 1887 

FalmotUh, 
RoBBRT J. White, 14 mos. 20 12 mo. 1887 

Ipswich, Son of Charles and Mary Ann 

White. 
Joseph J. Whitehead, 18 10 6 mo. 1888 

Halstead, Son of the late Mark and Ann 

Whitehead. 
John Whitfield, 88 9 8 mo. 1888 

Donnye, Oootehdll. 
Alice Wilkinson, 76 24 1 mo. 1888 

Coventry, Widow of Thomas Wilkinson. 
Mart Williams, 85 4 4 mo. 1888 

York Widow of Caleb Williams. 
John A. Williamson, 

Allonby. 20 mos. 20 1 mo. 1888 

Son of John and Elizabeth F. Williamson. 
Sarah Jane Williamson, 

WTiitehaven. 41 30 6 mo. 1888 

Widow of Joseph R. Williamson. 
Eliza Wilson, 77 27 7 mo. 1888 

Sunderland, Widow of Joshua Wilson. 
Florence Mart Wood, 26 27 9 mo. 1888 

Bournemouth. Wife of Morris Wood. 
Annie P. Woodhouse, 20 21 11 mo. 1887 

Limerick. Daughter of William J. and Annie 

Woodhouse. 



ANNUAL MONITOR. 195 

Peiscilla Woolven, 8 9 7 mo. 1888 
Thakdiam Meetmg-hou&e. Daughter of Edward 
and Charlotte Woolven. 

Joseph Worth, Crewe, 36 20 10 mo. 1887 

John Yeomanb, 65 8 4 mo. 1887 
Sheffield. An Elder. 

John Yorkb, York. 79 11 2 mo. 1888 



Errata in last year's volume. 

Page 20, line 20, for age 87, read 63. 
„ 20, „ 7 and 8, /or Son of Walter H. and 
Lucy Birchall, read Son of Lncy and the late 
William Harding Birchall, of Melbourne, for- 
merly of Hurley, near Leeds. 

Page 42, line 17, for Baltimore, Co. Eildare, read 
Bristol. 

Page 146, line 2, read instead, Bathgar, Daughter 
of Mary and the late Thomas Webb. 

Page 180, line 26, /or W. Gundry, readW. Cole. 



.INFANTS whose na/mes a/re not vaserted. 



Under three months ... Boys 2 ... Girls 3 

From three to six months „ ... „ 1 

„ six to nine „ „ ... „ 

„ nine to twelve „ „ ... » 1 



I 

% 



I 



15 



-sasssss- 1 



-=-SS2SSS- 



|,,„ 



i"'3"=-Sa35SS3'-S 



■'"■"sssas"! 
"rnTrrnTTTT 






' = = = =3 



fill 



nil 

i 






This book should be returned to 
the Library on or before the last date 
stamped below. 

A fine of five cents a day is incurred 
by retaining it beyond the specified 
time. 

Please return promptly.